Lynch cleared by the tribunal [update]

[one-eyed]

Andrew Woods (AFL): There was a decision made by Lynch to bump Keath. It was clear he wasn't going to get the ball. He turned his body and did, despite his evidence, brace.

https://go.arena.im/live/fox-sports-australia/qSYhqpX?v=2


Well someone thinks he's a mind-reader .

[one-eyed]

AFL says it was a bump

AFL counsel Andrew Woods says this was rough conduct, falling under the sub-category of a high bump.

"There was a decision made by Lynch to bump Keath," Woods said.

"It was clear he wasn't going to get the ball. His turned his body to brace."

Woods says if the Tribunal finds this wasn't a high bump, it should still fall under general rough conduct guidelines as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

- Michael Whiting

https://www.afl.com.au/news/901732/live-blog-tribunal-makes-call-on-blues-forward-tiger-faces-ban

[mightytiges]

Woods says if the Tribunal finds this wasn't a high bump, it should still fall under general rough conduct guidelines as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

What the ...? 

In which legitimate court can a prosecutor ask the judge to find someone guilty on something else if they are found innocent on the actual charge they went to court for.

#AFLStarChamber 

[one-eyed]

Sam Tovey (Richmond): It's a question as to whether Lynch's intention was to bump or do something very different, which was to brace himself for impending impact from an oncoming player. It cannot be both. If it was a brace to protect himself, the charge cannot be sustained.

Tovey (Richmond): Tom Lynch never took his eyes off the ball for a moment.

Tovey (Richmond): Tom Lynch hasn't chosen this situation, he hasn't made a decision to bring this about, it's a situation that came to him and was completely unexpected.

https://go.arena.im/live/fox-sports-australia/qSYhqpX?v=2

[the claw]

Forget about Lynching throw in the draw and quarter as well.

Just over the way the game has and continues to go. Never mind it was one of ours id be just as disgusted if it happened to another player from another club.

[one-eyed]

Richmond's argument

Lynch's counsel Sam Tovey is now submitting his argument.

"It's a question as to whether Lynch's intention was to bump or do something very different, which was to brace himself for impending impact from an oncoming player," Tovey said.

"It cannot be both. If it was a brace to protect himself, the charge cannot be sustained."

- Michael Whiting

https://www.afl.com.au/news/901732/live-blog-tribunal-makes-call-on-blues-forward-tiger-faces-ban

[mightytiges]

Tovey (Richmond): Tom Lynch hasn't chosen this situation, he hasn't made a decision to bring this about, it's a situation that came to him and was completely unexpected.

Bingo!

[one-eyed]

Tovey (Richmond): Lynch doesn't deviate off his line, whereas Keath moves some distance laterally to be directly in line with the path Lynch is already on towards the ball.

Tovey (Richmond): The immediate impression of watching this in real time is that this was not unreasonable conduct. There's also a lack of remonstration by Bulldogs players who were around and there were plenty of them.

https://go.arena.im/live/fox-sports-australia/qSYhqpX?v=2
https://twitter.com/DavidZita1

[one-eyed]

More from Richmond...

Lynch's counsel Sam Tovey continues. He says Lynch did not make a "decision" to bump, as suggested by AFL's Andrew Woods.

"Lynch goes directly towards the flight of the ball," Tovey said.

"It's the last instant before contact that he begins that movement of bracing and turning. What possible time did Lynch have to make that decision to bump someone?

"Keath moves some distance laterally. Lynch is fixated on the ball. It's not clear on the footage what Keath's intent was, it doesn't appear it was to be involved in an aerial contest.

"Lynch is faced with an extremely difficult situation – take the inevitable front-on contact from Keath or turn and brace for that impact?

"Tom Lynch hasn't chosen this situation – it's a situation that came to him that was completely unexpected."

- Michael Whiting

https://www.afl.com.au/news/901732/live-blog-tribunal-makes-call-on-blues-forward-tiger-faces-ban

[one-eyed]

The Tribunal is now deliberating.

https://go.arena.im/live/fox-sports-australia/qSYhqpX?v=2

[mightytiges]

Based on the arguments and evidence provided, Lynch has to get off. The AFL counsel had nothing whereas Tovey had all the detailed answers.

If Lynch still gets suspended, then it's a fix.

[one-eyed]

Time for the Tribunal to have a think

After hearing more than an hour of evidence, closer to 70 minutes, the Tribunal is now off deliberating the Tom Lynch case.

Lynch's counsel Sam Tovey summed up their submission by saying: "the charge should be dismissed. It wasn't a bump, it wasn't rough conduct, it wasn't careless."

Let's see if the Tribunal agrees.

- Michael Whiting

https://www.afl.com.au/news/901732/live-blog-tribunal-makes-call-on-blues-forward-tiger-faces-ban

[WilliamPowell]

Do we know who is sitting on the tribunal tonight?

[JP Tiger]

Rasputin, Judge Judy & Attila the Hun ... so its gonna be a fair hearing ...     

[one-eyed]

Do we know who is sitting on the tribunal tonight?

The AFL website blog earlier said "Chairman Jeff Gleeson" during the McKay case. So, I presume it's him.


Edit: David Zita just tweeted the tribunal chair is Gleeson.

https://twitter.com/DavidZita1/status/1645744165660270594