Alex Rance must be warned by the AFL after obvious staging in incident with Lance FranklinJon Ralph,
Herald Sun
18 June 2017ALEX Rance is the AFL’s Errol Flynn, a dashing modern-day Robin Hood attempting to free poor Richmond supporters from oppression.
On Saturday he again showed why the success-starved Tigers fans believe he might the greatest full-back that ever lived.
Yet it is incumbent upon the AFL to warn him that the actor in him should be reserved for his The Footy Show antics.
His dive when brushed on the chest by Lance Franklin earned him a free kick despite belonging in the realms of the World Wrestling Federation.
It was staging, plain and simple.
And when you assess the AFL’s rules for that very sin it’s hard not to think he won’t get a warning from the match review panel.
The rules state a player can be reported for staging for acts that include excessive exaggeration of contact in an unsportsmanlike manner.
The staging will be reportable if it may affect umpires’ decision-making, incite a melee or not be in the spirit of the game.
A player gets a reprimand for a first offence but no fine or suspension.
Rance’s act ticks every one of those boxes.
Franklin had already been reported for his hit on Connor Menadue and the brush to the chest did affect the decision-making of an umpire.
Rance won a critical free kick as he attempted to stave off Sydney’s surging midfield with his brilliant second-half heroics.
The league has confirmed this year that it often warns players about antics or troublesome behaviour through a quiet word to their footy manager on Mondays.
But Angus Monfries received an official warning in 2011 when his dive led to Jordan Lewis being suspended for two weeks.
Kane Cornes was warned by the AFL in 2010 when he collapsed to the ground after an incident involving Corey Enright.
Analyst David King warned “staging was coming back into vogue” when Matt Crouch collapsed when jumper-punched by Tom Hawkins.
But Crouch was clearly hit in the head and reacted to the force.
Rance wildly exaggerated mild force in an action that might have seen Franklin reported on the day if not for commonsense umpiring.
Hawkins’ jumper punch has immediately recalibrated what is acceptable for players, who have immediately stopped jumper punches to the head.
Rance would probably laugh off a public warning but it would put every player on notice that it is an act the AFL doesn’t condone.
An official warning won’t hurt his reputation but will clearly educate the thousands about what is acceptable over the white line.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/jon-ralph/alex-rance-must-be-warned-by-the-afl-after-obvious-staging-in-incident-with-lance-franklin/news-story/99b3b1c9798af1207ec9012cbac16b86