Stretcher Rule

[luthor]

Ok, we have the AFL saying the umps got it wrong, media commentators "going ballistic" and everyone else singing For the Lions are Jolly Good Fellows but the Swans get to keep the 4 points and (seemingly) escape any further scrutiny.

All I've heard from the Swans camp are some mealy-mouthed comments from their coach that "fortunately" Sinclair "appears" to have avoided any serious injury. Also, the Lions have "accepted" the situation and are happy to "move on".

Why has this grubby little piece of opportunism by the Swans been allowed to die such a meek death?

The way Sinclair was writhing in agony at the time, a casual (or even not so casual) observer could be forgiven for believing that he had suffered a really bad injury: a PCL maybe, a dislocated knee or an ACL.

But no....just an ordinary "garden variety" knee cramp.

Knee Cramp?????.....is there even such a thing?

Then he just trots off as though it was just a .....knee cramp.

At the very least, the Swans should be required to provide a medical report about MR Sinclair's "knee cramp" and why it caused such agonizing consequences for the poor fellow.

Otherwise it's just another case of temporary outrage followed by sweep it under the carpet and "move on"

 

[dave123]

Swans ...yup cheated ...dead set he knew what what he was doing .....he gets shot down then he's running off the ground ...give me a break please

 

[replicant]

Ok, we have the AFL saying the umps got it wrong, media commentators "going ballistic" and everyone else singing For the Lions are Jolly Good Fellows but the Swans get to keep the 4 points and (seemingly) escape any further scrutiny.

All I've heard from the Swans camp are some mealy-mouthed comments from their coach that "fortunately" Sinclair "appears" to have avoided any serious injury. Also, the Lions have "accepted" the situation and are happy to "move on".

Why has this grubby little piece of opportunism by the Swans been allowed to die such a meek death?

The way Sinclair was writhing in agony at the time, a casual (or even not so casual) observer could be forgiven for believing that he had suffered a really bad injury: a PCL maybe, a dislocated knee or an ACL.

But no....just an ordinary "garden variety" knee cramp.

Knee Cramp?????.....is there even such a thing?

Then he just trots off as though it was just a .....knee cramp.

At the very least, the Swans should be required to provide a medical report about MR Sinclair's "knee cramp" and why it caused such agonizing consequences for the poor fellow.

Otherwise it's just another case of temporary outrage followed by sweep it under the carpet and "move on"

An AFL spokesperson told News Corp there was absolutely no suspicion on their part that the Swans were guilty of gamesmanship, up by three points with the match on the line.

Now you can stop whinging.

 

[ziad]

And I thought it was a fully professional comp.

amateur hour at its very worst. You don't see stuff like this in suburban footy or juniors.

 

[HairyO]

What would the reaction have been if a Hawk player did it?

 

[Kiama Chris]

Source: http://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL Tenant/AFL/Files/Images/2016 Laws of Australian Football.pdf

7.3 USE OF STRETCHER
7.3.1 Health and Safety of Player
Any Player who is injured during a Match and who, in the opinion of a doctor, trainer or Official, requires the assistance of a stretcher, shall be attended by the Team’s training staff and a stretcher as soon as possible so as to ensure the health and safety of the Player.

7.3.2 Procedure
Where a stretcher is required, the following procedure shall apply:
(a) upon being advised or noticing that a Player requires a stretcher, the field Umpire shall stop play at the earliest opportunity and unless a doctor considers or it is apparent that it is unsafe to do so, the Player must be removed from the Playing Surface on the stretcher by the shortest possible route and taken direct to their Team’s change rooms;
(b) a Team may replace the injured Player with a Player listed on its Team Sheet, who must enter the Playing Surface via the Interchange Area;
(c) the Interchange Steward may allow the Player who is replacing the injured Player to enter the Playing Surface before the injured Player is removed from the Playing Surface;
(d) once the injured Player has been removed from the Playing Surface, the field Umpire shall recommence play as follows depending on the circumstances:
(i) where the football was in dispute at the time play was stopped, by throwing the football;
(ii) where the football was out of bounds at the time play was stopped, by directing the boundary Umpire to throw the football in;
(iii) where a Player had possession of the football at the time play was stopped, by awarding a Free Kick to the Player;
(iv) where a Player had been awarded a Free Kick or a Mark at the time play was stopped, by allowing the Player to dispose of the football.
(e) a Player for whom a stretcher was called shall not resume playing for a period of 20 minutes (excluding intervals between quarters) from the time when the Player left the Playing Surface. After the 20-minute period has expired, the Player may be interchanged in accordance with the procedure set out under Rule 7.2 provided the Player is able, having due regard to their health and safety, to resume playing in the Match; and
(f) Where a stretcher enters the Playing Surface but the Player elects to walk off, all provisions of law 7.3.2 apply but the Player may go to the Interchange Bench.

Lucky the ball wasn't in a Brisbane Lions' players hand when the stretcher was called otherwise it would have been a free kick. It is too much of a gamble to say that it was on purpose.

As we all now know it was an error by the sub umpire. Leppa 100% right to query the decision but 100% wrong to accuse another club of cheating. The rule is fine as is. Just needs to be correctly administered.

 

[maskmcgee]

I guess the rule has changed