Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says players should be whacked with $10,000 fines for staging, after debate reignited around the contentious issue this weekend. AFL great Matthew Lloyd was among those to suggest that Brisbane’s Cam Rayner should have copped a fine after being accused of going to ground too easily to win a pair of controversial free kicks in Friday night’s qualifying loss to Geelong.
Those calls ultimately fell on deaf ears as Rayner escaped sanction on Saturday when the match review officer’s findings were released. Rayner was gifted two goals at a crucial point of his team’s 38-point qualifying final loss to Geelong, cutting the Cats’ 27-point lead in the second quarter to just 15 at the main break. Fortunately for the AFL, it didn’t have a bearing on the final result.
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir (L) has floated an idea to eliminate staging after controversy around Brisbane’s Cam Rayner (R) sparked fresh debate around the AFL world. Pic: Getty
With Tyson Stengle lining up for goal to put Geelong 33 points ahead, Rayner first hit the turf at the opposite end of the ground after a light nudge to the back from Mark O’Connor. The AFL later admitted the free kick shouldn’t have been paid due to the force being insufficient.
But the questionable umpiring call presented Rayner with a gift six points and he was bowled over by Geelong’s Zach Guthrie moments after kicking the goal to earn another free kick in front of the posts. The AFL said the umpires got the second free kick call correct, but it never would have unfolded if not for the original incident.
Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley summed up the feelings of outraged viewers after labelling it a ‘disgraceful’ passage of umpiring in an AFL finals match. And Lloyd suggested that Rayner should have been fined for what many around the AFL world described as a perfect example of staging.
“The first one (free kick) was not there at all,” Lloyd said during 3AW’s call of the game. “He (Rayner) could be fined for staging, that’s how little there was in it where (Mark) O’Connor just gave him a little push in the back, he goes down, sucked the umpire in.”
Even if players are charged for staging, the fine is only $1500 for a first offence, which can be reduced to $1000 with an early guilty plea. But Fremantle’s coach says the punishment should be far more significant.
The AFL has admitted the umpires were wrong to pay Cam Rayner’s first free kick against Geelong, after fans accused the Brisbane star of staging. Pic: Getty/Seven
Justin Longmuir wants heavier fines to stamp out staging
Speaking after his side’s crushing elimination finals defeat to Gold Coast at Optus Stadium on Saturday night, Longmuir said heavier fines would be an obvious solution. The Dockers coach reckons stronger deterrents are necessary to eliminate a questionable tactic from players has become a real sore spot for footy fans.
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“It’s easy to stamp out – fine them. Players don’t like getting fined, so just fine them and you tidy that stuff up,” Longmuir said in response to the staging uproar. “Three years ago, or two years ago, we tidied up ducking your head to try and draw the free kick.
“If someone flops and it’s recognised as a flop, just fine them. Give them 10 grand, and then it’ll tidy itself up. Players adapt really well to what the rules are, and if there’s lenience in the rule, they’ll find little gaps to draw three kicks.
“And I don’t blame them for doing that, because they’re looking for any advantage. They’re so competitive, they’re looking for any advantage they can in the game. But we just need to not reward it, and then if we do reward it in a game accidentally, well, fine them. It will get tidied up quick as.”
with AAP