Previously in Off The Bench I have discussed my relationship with the sin bin in Coast footy and a controversial six-week suspension in local AFL for touching an umpire.
Well lo and behold, there have been some send-offs and sinbins in the NRL and AFL in the last few weeks and one has really got me cranky.
Greater Western Sydney Giants player, Toby Greene, was rubbed out for ‘handling an umpire’ and received a three-week ban.
Wow! How could that be fair? I was slapped with six weeks in 1975. The AFL must have read my column though and seen the discrepancy as it is appealing the sentence, saying it is not harsh enough.
In my view, so long as he learns a lesson it will probably be okay. I know I did. Well sort of. About 10 years after my AFL incident, I called a rugby league referee a cheat as we were leaving the field and he basically dared me to fight him. Luckily, I declined as I found out later that he was pretty handy when it came to boxing. Imagine that, getting beaten up by a referee. I would have had to leave town.
I honestly did learn from my suspension and endeavoured to change the way I reacted to things. It took a decade or so, but I got there.
At this stage, Toby Greene doesn’t appear to show much remorse and nor does South Sydney star Latrell Mitchell who has been suspended for an alleged head-high tackle.
Some players need to change the way they play and also how they react. Hopefully, it won’t take Greene and Mitchell a decade to learn this.
Trapped in a bubble
I have been thinking about three teams this week after a conversation I had regarding the bubble.
Imagine if you were a New Zealand Warrior, Melbourne Storm player or a PNG Hunter and a long way away from your family and, in some cases, for long periods.
It is a big ask for the players, staff and their families. Imagine being a coach, having to drop someone and then see them every day. Imagine not being able to walk your dog for 12 months or so.
What about being told to pack you bag as you are going to Queensland and don’t know for how long?
Then there are relationship breakdowns to complicate matters even more.
It looks glamorous staying in great accommodation and having everything done for you but give me the dog, the backyard and the occasional tiff with the missus any day. I take my hat off to those involved in those clubs trapped in the bubble.
Great to see our Swans flying high
Good luck Saturday to the Southern Swans who play Sandgate in the QFA Colts North Competition Grand Final in their first year in competition.
Well done to Caloundra, Hinterland, Kawana and Glasshouse for joining forces to give these young blokes a fantastic opportunity, which they have grabbed with both hands.
Coach Doug Stuart and his staff have done an awesome job, so whatever happens Saturday, it is still a win in my opinion. But, hopefully, the scoreboard will reflect that as well.
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