EYES ON THE PRIZE

[BackFromUSA]

I know everyone is emotional about this Baker decision but let's just step back for a moment and remember that it is not about 1 player or a game during the season ... 2010 is only about 1 thing ... OUR FINALS CAMPAIGN AND PREMIERSHIP.

Appealing the Baker findings is all a game of probabilities but as it stands right now, Baker would be free to play ALL FINALS and will be fresh and uninjured or suspended for the all important finals series. Although he will not have played a game for 9 weeks, he should still be in good touch because unlike a player with a long term injury he will be able to train and keep his ball touch every day.

Imagine appealing and he gets between 10 and 12 weeks instead of 9 ... what have we gained?

Imagine appealing and he gets 7 or 8 weeks so is back a few weeks before the finals and is then lured into a reportable act and we lose him for the finals and grand final through another petty suspension.

If there is no risk of increasing the games per charge or the total of games ... then perhaps cherry pick one or maximum two charges to contest. The misconduct charge is one ... the roundhouse perhaps the other.

On a positive note, this gives us 7 to 9 weeks to find another small defender ... and we desperately need another small defender because teams now know through our recent losses that we are unable to cover 3 or 4 quality smalls.

[degruch]

Agree, but I think there's a pretty strong chance of getting these charges reduced, owing to the fact they are completely ridiculous.

[Harvey To Hayes]

bulls***. We have to make a stand and fight this or we will forever be treated like a second class citizen of the AFL. Presently there are rules for one lot of clubs and rules for the rest, and we'll always be treated with disdain by those pricks if we don't do something about it...

I agree we can't let it derail our main objective, but that doesn't mean we have to roll over and take this abomination...

[bigcarl]

Imagine appealing and he gets between 10 and 12 weeks instead of 9 ... what have we gained?

Respect for standing up to a decision that is blatantly unjust. The club should fight it all the way because it is just plain f****** wrong.

[bigcarl]

Imagine appealing and he gets between 10 and 12 weeks instead of 9 ... what have we gained?

Self respect for standing up to a decision that is blatantly unjust.

The club should fight it all the way because it is just plain f****** wrong.

[BackFromUSA]

The only respect i want is as 2010 Premiers.

Losing Baker for 10-12 weeks and thus the crucial finals series is counter-productive.

Appealing should only be done where there is little or no risk of increasing the activation points to a level that results in an extra or extra weeks.

[bigcarl]

The only respect i want is as 2010 Premiers.

Losing Baker for 10-12 weeks and thus the crucial finals series is counter-productive.

Appealing should only be done where there is little or no risk of increasing the activation points to a level that results in an extra or extra weeks.

If he's out for 9 he's effectively out for the season.

The other thing is that sometimes you have to take a stand on principle.

It is a blatantly biased and wrong decision.

[nuttsy]

can he attend the tribunal dressed up as Chris Judd He might get off

[I Love Peter Kiel]

This decision is absolute BULLSH*T IMFO

[Solar]

No point bringing him back because he would not be able to go near someone without drawing a free or some weeks. Right now he is target number 1 and they need to revamp the whole system or baker might as well retire right now.

[Dr Spaceman]

Imagine appealing and he gets between 10 and 12 weeks instead of 9 ... what have we gained?

Self respect for standing up to a decision that is blatantly unjust.

The club should fight it all the way because it is just plain f****** wrong.

Leaving aside the pathetic, fruitlooply opposition fans, it appears the majority of sensible football people are just as shocked & horrified by this decision as we are. People such as Mike Sheehan simply can't believe it.

IMO, given how ridiculous these decisions are there is no way the penalties will be increased if we will challenge them. The Tribunal will take the opportunity to rectify the idiocy shown by the MRP. They may not chuck them out but they certainly won't make themselves, and the AFL, a bigger laughing stock than they are tonight.