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July 19, 2006
Everything Is Back To Normal...
...Mooney is suspended & the AFL is a joke.
Tribunal: No Cat ChallengeGeelong will accept a one-match suspension offered to fiery Cameron Mooney for his latest on-field indiscretion.
The Cats believe the demerit points loading for past misdemeanours and video evidence make it difficult to challenge the ruling at the AFL Tribunal.
Henry Playfair, an emergency against Port Adelaide, is a tall forward option for Sunday's game against the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome.
One-game penalties served early this season and last year increased Mooney's points by 10 per cent after his clash with Power forward Josh Mahoney on Sunday was assessed as reckless conduct and medium impact.
Mooney also had 62.50 residual points from the suspension for making contact with Demon Ben Holland's face in Round 6, increasing the total to 200 and a two-match penalty, reduced to one by a guilty plea.
If it was any other player I would've challenged the ruling, but because it is Mooney and he has a history of this kind of stupidity, I'm sure we were too worried we'd lose him for the trip to the Gabbatoir so we swallowed our pride and copped the decision.
Goldspink sledged us, say angry CatsThe AFL's most flamboyant umpire Darren Goldspink has again drawn the spotlight after allegations of sledging at Geelong.
The Cats are disturbed by what they claim were aggressive comments by Goldspink to Paul Chapman and Gary Ablett at Skilled Stadium on Sunday.
The Cats are considering laying an official complaint.
A third, separate incident between Ablett and umpire Kieron Nicholls also raised eyebrows, but not to the extent of Chapman's verbal volley with Goldspink.
t's understood Chapman made claims to the Cats yesterday that Goldspink said to him: ``You're f...ed, where are you going to be in six months'.''
The alleged comment came after Chapman had complained to the veteran umpire about not receiving a free kick for what Chapman believed to be a head-high hit.
It's understood Chapman's words were to the effect: ``Why don't you look after both sides?''
As Goldspink, a veteran of 348 games, and Chapman continued their alleged exchange, Ablett ran passed and suggested to them to end it.
It's alleged Goldspink then said to Ablett: ``Why don't you get a kick.''
Geelong chief executive Brian Cook yesterday confirmed incidents took place with Goldspink.
``I can confirm both Ablett and Chapman were spoken to by the umpires in a pretty aggressive way,'' Cook said.
``In fact, there was a bit of banter between both of them in an aggressive way.''
The last quarter incident between Ablett and umpire Nicholls came as Ablett was on the ground and being treated by the club doctor. It's alleged Nicholls said to Ablett: ``Get up, you're not hurt.''
These latest allegations are not the first levelled at Goldspink. Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd said Goldspink needed to watch what he said to players after the Round 7 match between Hawthorn and Melbourne.
Lloyd said: ``I think he is the only one that really does it, Darren Goldspink. It's the worst thing, I reckon it's a player's pet hate ... an umpire saying something when they are just standing there.''
Last year Richmond's Matthew Richardson criticised Goldspink after an incident in a match against Fremantle.
Richardson said Goldspink's comment that he needed to kick a goal - ``don't stab at it, handy goal this will be'' - was a disgrace. ``I'm not happy with him,'' Richardson said at the time. ``You're out there to umpire, Darren, not tell me it's an important goal.''
Cook yesterday described Sunday's exchange as a surprise.
``The players normally are a bit more aggressive than the umpires, but when it's the other way round I do get a bit surprised. I'd expect both to be at some fault, but when you hear this sort of stuff, you start to wonder, what is going on?''
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said last night the league had not been contacted by Geelong and knew nothing of the allegations.
Geelong have since made a complaint which has been brushed over by Vlad & his little puppy dog Anderson who obviously think it's good that the umpires to get to have their fun and pretend their important. Basically Goldspink's conduct is a disgrace. I'd basically have no problem with what Goldspink said if players were able to engage in similar banter with them, that wouldn't cost their side 50m in the process. I'm sure Darren would have been pretty quick on the whistle if Chappy had come at him saying "You're fucked".
Vlad put your foot down and close Darren's mouth or change the rules and make it an even playing field with coaches & players being able to comment to the media about an umpires performance. As for now, it's a one way street.
Posted by Sammy D at July 19, 2006 03:47 PM