What Was Barry Hall Thinking?
I have just witnessed one of the most remarkable things I have seen in AFL Football for a long time. In the Round 4 game between the Sydney Swans and West Coast Eagles, Big Bad Barry Hall has absolutely smashed the living daylights out of West Coast Eagles defender Brent Staker. The sight of Staker’s eyes rolling back at Barry Hall landed a big left hook on his jaw was sickening to say the least. What on earth was he thinking. If that game was in Perth he would not have left the ground alive!
You would think that Hall will get at least 4 weeks as an absolute minimum but deserves more than that. It was a disgraceful incident and Hall deserves everything he gets. I am not sure that any of the West Coast Eagles players or supporters would have had much sympathy when Hall crashed through the fence and smashed his arm and head against the steel posts of the stand. That in itself was an ugly incident and the AFL will no doubt be looking at that.
The Eagles are in all sorts of trouble at the moment and with Daniel Kerr being well held by Kieran Jack and Dean Cox not really having any influence they were well and truly smashed in all areas of the game. The only highlight would have been the performance of second gamer Ben McKinley who kicked a goal in each quarter backing up his 3 goals last week. He has a big body and looks to have what it takes to hold a spot in the Eagles side. At the other end of the scale the Big Q would probably get my votes for the worst on the ground.
Michael O’Loughlin was far to good for first gamer Matthew Spangher, it was a huge learning experience for the young fella. Adam Goodes did as he pleased through the middle of the ground and little man Kieran Jack was brilliant on Daniel Kerr. Ted Richards did a fantastic job at Center Half Back for the Swans while Marty Mattner is showing why the Swans were rapt with getting him from Adelaide with some great defensive work and giving some great run from defense.
But the game will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Now on the other side of the coin when Barry Hall returns to the fray the aura that is Big Bad Barry Hall will be bigger than ever and I am not sure that any defender will want to go near the big man again! Not that they really wanted to now. And what backed that up was the fact that the only player to really remonstrated with Hall was Beau Waters, a tough nut himself, at the break. I just shows how intimidating the man is. Even more so now.
See Ya Round Barry.
I think Barry Hall deserves a medal. He was being held without the ball, his appeal to the umpire was ignored twice so he lashed out. What else could he do? No I am not a Swans supporter but I never see the umpires treat Barry the same as other players, they let the opposition give him heaps and then wonder why he lashes out.
In industry incidents like this are investigated in a manner that is sometimes refered to as Cause & Effect. In this matter the outcome would be - Cause = Poor umpiring, Effect = Player has no choice but to lash out. Barry didnt even get a free kick when he was pushed in the back catapulting him into the fence rsulting in a suspected broken wrist.
Give Barry a medal for putting up with the umpires crap for so long and the AFL shoulduse this event to train umpires better on what they shouldn’t do.
Dear Sir\Madam
After watching the Swans West Coast game on the weekend, I am wondering how far the persecution of the Sydney Swans is going to last, are we being punished for being over achievers in the biggest city in Australia. We have a team of basically no names and a few key players that are getting on in age.
Barry Hall after much provocation and no support from the umpires swings around, admittedly his hand was in a fist and the whole thing looked very bad but on reflection no damage was done, a little poke on the chin will always bring that result. And if they bring up the fact he was the Australian Junior amateur champion one more time I will scream, the amateurs are so far from being anywhere near the standard of the professionals and especially a junior champion it is almost laughable. He is a big strong man but so are about 70% of the AFL footballers these days. Was anything done to the person who pushed him into the fence and broke his head and possibly his wrist. Again the silence was deafening from the commentators as well as the various officials. He was also punched in the body before this happened by a West Coast player in full view of the cameras and not a word was spoken, on this occasion he did not retaliate. Where was the free kicks, where was the reportable offence. Either the umpires become professional and unbiased regardless of the player or get umpires who can.
Ralph Maples Blue Mountains New South Wales.
PS the great game of AFL needs Barry Halls of this world it doesn’t need umpires who should be agony aunts. Or commentators who have never played at the highest level or who have forgotten very quickly their playing days.
RALPH MAPLES you are not far from the mark mate. On seeing the footage again today I picked out what caused Barry to strike out, he was grabbed by the throat. I hope the West Coast player is charged for this by the match review panel. I am certain that anyone would react like Barry did when put in this prediciment.
C’Mon guys you can’t tell me that Brent Staker deserved that!
What does Barry Hall cop from defenders that other forwards, let’s say Jonathon Brown, does not?
The game at the moment is made for forwards, defenders are not allowed to do much these days.
As to others reacting like Barry did well I highly doubt that.
Cheers
Ando
Are you guys even fans and understand the rules of the game? If not I would suggest you learn them…
That was the most cowardly incident I have seen for many years.
This is going to hurt the games reputation and especially the push into Sydney, who in their right mind would want their kid play AFL with stuff like this happening?
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I think you could make a case that Barry was provoked before the punch was thrown. However it was well before this incident. He didn’t face up to Staker and punch him - he king hit him out of the blue. This to a large degree negates any argument about others actions. The punch was a mug act. If there was earlier provocation like punching and throat grabbing then he can bring that up at tribunal but from wht I saw he wasn’t using that excuse at his press conference. If he wins a fight then fair enough but king hits deserve punishment especially when this is not the first time. That said I think he is a character and the game needs them. I think aspects of physical play are umpired way to soft and the game is becoming a foot race with kicking. No-one wants meat head rugby league tackles but the game is getting very soft in my opinion