Bone’s beef: Three strikes for unfair policy that could make a mockery of Brownlow Medal

THE three-strike policy at the Match Review Panel for low-level offences threatens to make a mockery of the Brownlow Medal and needs to go, says Chris McDermott.

Dustin Martin throws his weight around against Brad Ebert. Picture: Calum Robertson

• Brownlow night could get awkward
• Danger, Cats accept umpire’s call
• Martin on track to dust Brownlow record
• Saints champ’s Brownlow threat

ANOTHER three-strike policy is doomed to fail.

Enough is enough.

The AFL’s three-strike policy on illicit drugs has had to be revised, tweaked and reworked over the years and very soon the league’s three-strike policy at the Match Review Panel for low-level offences will need to be reviewed.

It might cost Richmond’s Dustin Martin the 2017 Brownlow Medal, and what a disaster that would be.

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First Dangerfield then Martin, the two-clear favourites for the Brownlow, both ineligible.

Daylight will win it on default.

Dangerfield has been suspended for his tackle on Matthew Kreuzer while Martin is walking a tightrope with two fines to his name for very minor indiscretions.

He will need to be on his very best behaviour to avoid a third offence and an automatic one match suspension that will also make him ineligible come Brownlow night.

Can you think of a bigger disaster for the game?

All hell will break loose and a change to that three-strike rule will surely follow.

Too late she cried.

Watch closely.

They’re a feisty lot at Punt Road and if Dusty cops another fine Tigerland will erupt.

The great man Kevin Bartlett will lead the charge as only KB can.

The ski season will come to a crashing halt.

Richmond is the club with the biggest membership and there is nothing in the game that compares to an unhappy Tiger Army. If finishing ninth every year wasn’t bad enough!

Richmond play Hawthorn, Geelong, Fremantle and St Kilda in the last four rounds.

The Tigers could easily win them all but just as easily lose every one of them.

They could pinch a top-two berth or struggle to make the eight and, of course, anywhere in between.

Dustin Martin, middle, gets some attention from St Kilda players last year. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Martin will have a target on his head.in every game.

Luke Hodge will niggle him, Patty Dangerfield will bash heads with him, Fremantle will simply be Fremantle against him and, just when he thinks it’s nearly over, the Saints will throw the kitchen sink at him to get him to lose his cool.

It will be the toughest four weeks of his football life and he has had the odd tough one.

Let’s hope he can tough this one out.

It will be the making or the breaking of a champion.

Originally published as Bone’s beef: Three strikes for unfair policy that could make a mockery of Brownlow Medal