In Ballantyne's case(s), what happens to the AFL's 'doubling up' rule if the Club successfully appeals the first of the charges? He would then only have a reprimand, wouldn't he?
Could you really see two separate episodes (chargeable offences), or was it one episode with two actions, each related to the other? No excuse for the kneeing, but the other one looked like a love tap - just like the Luke Hodge one on Stevie Johnson on Monday.
I know it's a long time back, but when Dale Kickett was hit with three separate offences in the Demolition Derby, I thought it was outrageous. He was provoked and took part in a blue, with three punches all in the same incident. It was, I reckon, a bit of prejudice against the player, and maybe even his Aboriginality, in that case. A high profile player in another team would not have copped 9 weeks. In other words, they made cumulative penalties, rather than concurrent ones, which I would much prefer for Ballantyne.
The post-Fyfe attitude of the MRP has been insipid on similar issues - and their confusion is such that they can't work out what to do with the Adelaide player cited this week, sending it direct to the Tribunal.
