Before I begin, many of you know that I rarely write about off-field stuff. I tend to leave that to people much more qualified. Given that, I was a little hesitant to tackle this issue, as I know it is sensitive.
I’ve run it past Mrs Mongrel, who cast her critical, suspicious, and judgmental eye over it, and got the nod of approval. So… away we go.
The AFL has seemingly painted itself into a corner.
On one hand, you have those who want consistency in terms of the pending suspension for Izak Rankine. They want it to be in-line with what has been the punishment in the most recent cases of using homophobic slurs in the game.
However, there is sentiment in some quarters that Rankine should have the opportunity to play in the finals, as he is looking at a suspension similar in length to the one Tom Lynch received for a physical assault earlier in the season.
To those people, the severity of each case does not line up. Are words equal to action? Do they both warrant harsh penalties?
On another note, the league has already made a mess of the suspensions it has handed down, starting out with a fine for a coach, a three-week suspension for one player, and a six-week suspension for another. It’s been a dog’s breakfast right from the start.
Of course it has – it’s the AFL running the show. But are there reasons for this, or has the league just decided to make it up on the fly?
As we head toward the business end of the season, the Crows are looking as though they will have to battle it out without Izak Rankine. Many are saying they copped their right whack. Many would also have a differing view of the situation if the offending player was wearing their team’s colours, is my guess.
Alas, the penalty for Rankine remains up in the air as I write this. It could be three weeks. It could be six.
The AFL’s approach to suspending players for homophobic slurs has a demonstrated variation in penalty lengths, despite the league’s stated zero-tolerance policy. Below, I’ll outline the recent cases, propose theories for why suspension lengths differ, and discuss the potential impact on Izak Rankine as he faces a continuing investigation over his slur on the weekend.
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