AFLPA angry as gap between sanctions for Finlayson, Clarkson explainedThe AFL Players’ Association has reacted angrily over Port Adelaide forward Jeremy Finlayson’s three-week suspension.
Will Faulkner and Max Laughton
April 11, 2024“We believe the AFL is consistently inconsistent and there are double standards in its approach to dealing with players compared to others on behavioural matters,” AFLPA boss Paul Marsh said in a statement.
“This issue highlights the lack of clarity on how the AFL handles these situations and we want this to be the catalyst for an urgent review of the sanctioning framework.
“If this type of conduct is a three-week sanction for a player, it should be for everyone involved in the game and this should be clear to everyone in the industry upfront rather than the open-ended approach that is currently in place.”
The Herald Sun’s Lauren Wood, speaking on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle, explained what the AFL saw as the difference between the Clarkson and Finlayson slurs.
“First things first is the actual slur that was used, the actual word. Clarkson’s was probably not considered by those who were investigating to be as openly homophobic, whereas Finlayson’s was incredibly pointed, incredibly cutting, total no-go zone,” she said.
“Then they looked at the provocation. Finlayson was basically unprovoked, Clarkson’s situation, the environment was highly charged, he had St Kilda players coming at him (after the Jimmy Webster bump), he was going back at them.”
But she added, suggesting the league regretted not suspending Clarkson: “It’s safe to say at the moment the differences wouldn’t be as vast if the AFL had its time again.”
https://www.news.com.au/sport/aflpa-angry-as-gap-between-sanctions-for-finlayson-clarkson-explained/news-story/07bf82ed481d721712f32c0f87adebd5?from=rss-basic
