Absolutely their double standards is the issue. They are so incredibly inconsistent in how they manage similar things. It just makes no sense whatsoever.
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Well, there it is, I thought they might say something. No wonder their players are puzzled. And yes I’m not disguising the fact I fkg hate Geelong with a passion. Absolute pack of ■■■■■.
‘Is there a consequence?’: AFL quizzed over Cats’ Mad Monday blunder in wake of Giant sanction
Cats apologise for Mad Monday antics | 00:27
Newswire from Newswire
October 2nd, 2025 2:53 pm
GWS boss Dave Matthews has called out the lack of consistency from the AFL after Geelong players escaped sanctions over their Mad Monday antics while Giants players copped suspensions at the end of 2024 for their behaviour.
Newly installed AFL football boss Greg Swann declared on Wednesday that league officials were “not thrilled” with the costumes, antics and social media posts of several Geelong players, including Bailey Smith, at their post-season celebrations on Monday.
Despite that, the league left Geelong officials to handle the situation.
The Cats issued an apology and declared future post-season events “will not continue in this current form”.
“And we will take this moment to further educate our people on expectations and club and community standards,” Geelong said in a statement after being urged by the AFL to act.
Swann even declared that in future it would be more likely the AFL would leave clubs to handle similar situations and the league would only step in if required.
“You might see that change, as I said, I think these are club issues,” he said.
“We will step in if we have to, but we’ll let the clubs deal with it.”
It’s a response in stark contrast to 12 months ago when the AFL suspended six GWS players and fined seven others, including captain Toby Greene, for their conduct at an end-of-season function.
Josh Fahey copped a four-game ban, while Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas and Cooper Hamilton were banned for two games.
Greene and other senior Giants players Sam Taylor, Tom Green, Lachie Keeffe, Harry Perryman, Connor Idun and Lachie Whitfield were fined $5000 each.
Those penalties were handed out despite the behaviour, which included inappropriate costumes and comedy skits, happening in a private function room with no social media presence, unlike the very public display from Cats players.
It left Matthews questioning why there was no league action against Geelong.
“I have obviously been an interested observer, but this is a broader AFL issue. We need more consistency,” he told SEN ahead of the club’s best and fairest count.
“The first thing that happened this week is I was getting messages from players and staff saying, ‘So, Geelong is going to start the season with players suspended?’. That’s the difficulty.
“Credit to Geelong because they put out a statement, they said this was unacceptable, they apologised. The question could also be — is there a consequence?
“That’s not targeting Geelong in any way, it’s just that one year ago we dealt with all sorts of consequences and they dragged on for months with continued public discussion around it.
“We need a framework that the fans, the players and the clubs understand. Because at the moment there’s what’s happened, and then everybody is guessing about what happens next.”
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I agree. Why aren’t players getting suspended for what they did?
Oh that’s right. Because its Smith and Holmes (Geelongs best players) and Danger (AFLPA love child)
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Imagine what Naked Gun would do.
Geelong really are the untouchables.
It’s a miracle the AFL didn’t postpone the GF for a week to allow Stewart to finish his HIA
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Geelong stooge the new AFL Chairman.
You can’t make this ■■■■ up
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Former Geelong president Craig Drummond has been appointed as the new AFL Commission chair.
7NEWS Melbourne’s Xander McGuire revealed on Tuesday afternoon that former federal government financial regulator and Medibank CEO will take over from incumbent chair Richard Goyder after a long process to find his successor.
My goodness, Goyder’s man, no profile and a corporate wanker like him. When the game is desperately calling out for someone with a bit of profile, charisma and initiative to balance out Dillon being the world’s most boring man. This clown should get rolled by the clubs at the March AGM.
Chris Scott was probably offered the job but turned it down
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He’s a better choice than the Collingwood and, even worse, Peter Gordon.
The rule changes, explained in detail below, relate to (summary in bold):
- Goalsquare starting positions: 6-6-6 rule still applies but no need for a forward and defender to be positioned in the goalsquare before play resumes
- Last disposal rules: Following the AFLW and SANFL model, last disposal out of bounds between the 50m arcs is a free kick
- Centre ball-up contests: Ball no longer bounced and players not allowed to cross the centre line before the ball is thrown up
- Aligned kick-in times: Play on called after 8 seconds in line with general play, brought in from 12 seconds
- Ruck nominations: Rucks still need to nominate but umpires will no longer wait for them to arrive before a ball up
- Shrugging in the tackle: Shrugging will be considered prior opportunity
- The stand rule: Opposition players not on the mark but within the 5m zone at the time of a mark or free kick now must stand, and no longer have the option of clearing the zone
I agree with all these changes except the stand rule. Get rid of that one in its entirety.
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Will they change the AFLW and VFLW lasso rules to avoid shepherding the ball over the line? Presumably the VFL will also get it.
Now, if you are within 5m of a mark or a free kick when it is paid, deemed the protected area, you will be required to ‘stand’ and can no longer reverse to being ‘outside five’.
I hope the rule is written better than this PR piece: pack mark, you can take three opponents out of action!
High tackle at a stoppage, might take out five!
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Last disposal should be across the whole ground but the AFL are too scared to admit that other leagues can do it better and want to pretend that they thought of the rule so have gone with the half baked between the arcs rule
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Nahh, I think the AFL should go the other way on this.
Last touch out of bounds between the arcs is a free kick against (encourage play through the corridor), but there is no intentional out of bounds in the arcs. You can use them tactically to force a stoppage. Repeat forward 50 stoppages generally lead to scores which I think the AFL is trying to promote.
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The implication that the 6-6-6 rule needed adjusting to save time after a goal is kicked is an absolute crock of sh*t.
The wasted time comes from the umpires having to wait for the all clear letting them know that the TV stations have completed their ad breaks.
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Recent AFLW matches on 7 (not Fox) have been excruciatingly slow to restart (ad, plus extended replay).
How many of these changes are reactions to previous changes they’ve made?
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Having just watched the explainer video, I think it only means the player on the mark. All those in the area can clear but whoever stands the mark will not be allowed to exit the zone (as they previously were).
All those changes for 3 mins off a 2.5 hour game 
. Most of them are ok, but most won’t even be noticed.
I reckon out of bounds should be last touch across the entire field, even if it’s fumbled or innocuous. Like soccer, basketball and Gaelic football, make it that you simply can’t score when bringing the ball back in, that’s their main concern with making it full ground and last touch in all circumstances.
I bet you’d find the ball practically never goes out if it’s genuine last touch. I also don’t see the need to retain the boundary throw in for rucks that are doing a slow waltz with each other on the boundary line, congestion comes from boundary throw ins, plus really long game times. Other options are bringing the ball back in via a handball like soccer with a throw.
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Should have taken the deal for Merrett
Hawks first will be a top 10 pick if this rule is enforced. Their forwards won’t kick a goal now
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