Was it you? Fess up!

Post by **WhyPhilWhy?** » Wed May 15, 2024 8:34 am

The AFL can't anticipate anyone's intent.
Given it wasn't initiated by the player, I think the punishment fits the crime.
Fans touching players without the player's consent can't be allowed.

Post by **think positive** » Wed May 15, 2024 9:00 am

Correct

Culprit · Post by **Culprit** » Wed May 15, 2024 9:09 am

^^Spot on TP.

daics aka the ruckman · Wed May 15, 2024 10:11 am

It was an awkward thing to do. I know I would not have liked a stranger putting two hands on my head.
The player didn’t seem concerned and maybe they said something prior out of camera that made it acceptable to both.
Either way no games for the rest of the year is about right.

MagpiesTheGreat · Post by **MagpiesTheGreat** » Wed May 15, 2024 10:56 am

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/left-a ... 00f1f15ce4

The Collingwood fan who grabbed West Coast youngster Harvey Johnston during Sunday’s match at Marvel Stadium has apologised for the incident and promised to “learn from this and be better for it”.
Collingwood fan Justin Witcombe has been banned for the remainder of the season, with a further six months suspended, meaning he’ll be unable to attend an AFL or AFLW game for the remainder of 2024.

the fuzz · Post by **the fuzz** » Wed May 15, 2024 11:12 am

It wasn't at all aggressive.
It was an oddly kinda nice moment I thought. A fan giving an opposition player a bit of a hug and a pat on the back.
Look, I know you can't condone fans touching a player. A 5 game ban would have been sufficient. Any physical aggression should be a lifetime ban, but a rest of the year ban doesn't seem right to me for the manner in which it happened.
I guess they need to set a precedent.

Post by **stui magpie** » Wed May 15, 2024 1:29 pm

^

The problem is the precedent had already been set not long ago. A fan who reached over the fence to pat/push/smack a player on the back got more than 12 months ban.

Now Whitty is a nice bloke and since he's been off the P155 (which he has been for years) he wouldn't hurt a fly. It clearly wasn't a menacing act, largely harmless in fact, but if he gets away with it, what will some dickhead do next?

He got 6 months of the ban suspended because it was so minor and because he was immediately contrite, which is fair, but they had to send a consistent message not to touch the players without their consent. If the player runs around to hi 5 the crowd, fair enough.

What would happen if a player, AFL or AFLW were backed right up to the fence to take a shot at goal and some dill leans over, puts his hands on their shoulder and whispers "Give us a kiss sweetheart"?

Or worse, tried to injure them.

piedys · Post by **piedys** » Wed May 15, 2024 2:06 pm

stui magpie wrote: The problem is the precedent had already been set not long ago.
A fan who reached over the fence to pat/push/smack a player on the back got more than 12 months ban.

Stui; sorry mate - when/where did this occur? News to me...

stui magpie wrote:Now Whitty is a nice bloke and since he's been off the P155 (which he has been for years) he wouldn't hurt a fly.
It clearly wasn't a menacing act, largely harmless in fact, but if he gets away with it, what will some dickhead do next?

Just as well Whitty didn't try that on Goodes; the AFL would be escorting him to the gallows...

Post by **think positive** » Wed May 15, 2024 2:12 pm

piedys wrote:
stui magpie wrote: The problem is the precedent had already been set not long ago.
A fan who reached over the fence to pat/push/smack a player on the back got more than 12 months ban.
Stui; sorry mate - when/where did this occur? News to me...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-05/ ... /102692952

piedys · Post by **piedys** » Wed May 15, 2024 2:19 pm

think positive wrote:
piedys wrote:
stui magpie wrote: The problem is the precedent had already been set not long ago.
A fan who reached over the fence to pat/push/smack a player on the back got more than 12 months ban.
Stui; sorry mate - when/where did this occur? News to me...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-05/ ... /102692952

Thanks Jo, Pickett eh?
Everytime he feels a hand from behind, he probably thinks it's a copper to slap the cuffs on him again...

neil · Post by **neil** » Wed May 15, 2024 2:45 pm

I thought everyone knew you could not touch the players

Not sure if punishment is appropriate or not
If it had been a Carlscum player touching one of ours i would be pissed off

Post by **LaurieHolden** » Wed May 15, 2024 3:04 pm

neil wrote:^If it had been a Carlscum player touching one of ours I would be pissed off

Imagine it, we'd be calling for the chair.
He'll take his whack and learn from it and the AFL gets their message out.
He could well sneak into games, surely no one will notice him.

Wed May 15, 2024 3:35 pm

Wow, I actually thought it was a nice moment

Post by **WhyPhilWhy?** » Wed May 15, 2024 4:01 pm

Piethagoras' Theorem wrote:Wow, I actually thought it was a nice moment

It was. It just can't be allowed as its the thin end of the wedge.

Post by **stui magpie** » Wed May 15, 2024 4:38 pm

think positive wrote:^

Thanks Jo, this one outlines the penalty. The incident happened August 2023 and he was suspended from attending until October 24. The rest of the 23 season and all of the 24 season. Whitty must have pleaded the "Good Bloke" defence and only got the rest of this season, which I'm happy with. An 18 month ban may have literally killed him.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/997577/afl- ... on-pickett

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