Absence of context in MRP rulings

Regular readers will already be well aware that AussieRulesBlog has long been critical of the Match review panel system currently in place. The theory sounds just fine, but too often the practical results leave a great deal to be desired.

 

Sharrod Wellingham’s devastating bump to Kade Simpson last Friday night and the MRP’s assessments released today simply serve to highlight, yet again, the failings of this mathematical approach to on-field indiscretions.

 

‘Reckless’ is how the MRP describes the action. We’re tired of beating round the bush. Let’s call this assessment for what it is: bullshit! Wellingham had left the ground before the ball got to Simpson, did not ever even glance in the direction of the ball and was tucked into an offensive bumping shape, did not make any attempt to get the ball, was solely focussed on hitting Simpson. Reckless!

 

Meanwhile, Heath Hocking’s ill-considered off-the-ball block of Lenny Hayes gets assessed as ‘intentional’ — because it was off the ball. We don’t have any argument with that assessment, but it looks ridiculous compared with reckless for Wellingham’s action.

 

Not only does the reckless assessment give Wellingham a free break, but the system rewards him with a 40% discount because of his good record. Sorry, intentionally taking out an opponent in the way Wellingham did disqualifies him from obtaining any advantage from his lack of previous charges.

 

Adrian Anderson’s MRP assessment system is fine for small indiscretions, but has proved itself, time and again, demonstrably inadequate for major incidents.

 

Anyone who saw Simpson’s body spasming in the seconds after the collision will have had the same thoughts that ran through AussieRulesBlog’s mind — that Simpson had sustained a major spinal or head injury. We reckon Wellingham is very, very lucky that he doesn’t have a wheelchair-bound Kade Simpson on his conscience.