Knee in the back - AFL must act

[bally12]

I've longed believed the most cowardly and thuggish act on the football field is the knee to the back in a marking contest. I'm not talking about the placing of the knee on the back to get leverage/balance in a marking contest, but the intentional knee to the back intended to cause hurt...usually concealed in the act of marking the football, and delivered to an ususpecting player in front who is going for the ball.

I'm amazed that more hasn't been said about the horrific injury to Sandilands, in the kneeing incident with Naitanui. He's sustained multiple broken ribs, punctured lung, and actually had a rib permanently removed, in what doctors described as an injury akin to ones sustained in serious car accidents. It seems that it's been casually passed off as just a normal football incident. In my view there is no doubt Naitanui tried to hurt Sandilands. To be fair, I haven't seen enough of Naitanui to note if he's a repeat offender, in the same way Fevola and Lloyd were. Waite does something similar but uses his foot instead. Yes, I have made a mental note of who's done this kind of thing in the past.

I just saw a Port Adelaide player do it to Dangerfield, and well done to the Geelong players for making it clear it wasn't acceptable, and causing a dust up.

To play this game already requires incredible levels of toughness and bravery, without resorting to this kind of thuggery. I applaud the AFL in being concerned with and acting on head-high contact, however I also believe they need to stamp out deliberate kneeing into the ribs and back of ususpecting players going for the ball. It's absolutely unacceptable for a modern-day AFL player to sustain injuries such as broken ribs, punctured lungs, a destroyed kidney, smashed vertebrae.

In saying this, this kind of incident isn't that common, however when it does occur, it has the potential to cause significant damage, and must be treated with the seriousness that it deserves. Every player must have a duty of care, so that we don't see these type of horrific injuries again in our sport. AFL, fix it up please.

[5150]

Cuntington did it to GAJ in the Roos/GC game earlier as well.

Agree it's as courageous as a jumper punch (another hate of mine)

[Donny]

We have this ridiculous and dichotimous situation of when a player does that but takes the speccy, it's ok. The mark is paid.

But when the mark isn't held, that player gets pinged for 'in the back'.

By the way, Naitanui's mark and knee in the back wasn't malicious but just as dangerous. Ask Sandilands.

[Bob Sugar]

yeah I didn't much enjoy backing back into packs for the same reason, it's funny because you can't push a player in the back, but you can knee him.

Had quite a few team mates pisssing blood after getting kneed in the kidney.

[Bob Sugar]

Was watching some sports science show a few years back, they were testing what kind of forces kicks-knees and punches applied, a running knee tested off the chart for force.

[kymbo5@yahoo.com.au]

The AFL did zero about Sam Mitchell deliberately corking people with his knees, he's still doing it. If that's their thoughts on that, they will not get involved in this type of deliberate injury either.

[stui magpie]

[Woods]

Didn't Varcoe break someones ribs with his knee early last season?

[swoop42]

Fevola had a habit of it.

He used his knee as a battering ram and it had little to do with the act of marking.

[Bob Sugar]

[Dangles]

Dangerfield will probably pay the melee fines for his teammates who flew the flag for him. I've heard he's on pretty good money.

[Big T]

[5150]

[stoliboy]

Port Adelaide vs Geelong Quarter Time Melee - Australian Football League
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImBZa-ZXy0I

Brawl erupts during Geelong v Port Adelaide
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzfhe5fCcGY

[qldmagpie67]

Rumour has it after the port cats wrestling show Collingwood are going to be fined and have 4 players suspended to teach other clubs a lesson
The AFL call it fair justice as they see it