Strike Two: Hall Back In The Dock

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday July 7, 2008

Michael Cowley with AAP

Sydney 6.14 (50)

Collingwood 11.13 (79)

BARRY HALL could be suspended again and be unavailable for Sydney's crucial clash with Hawthorn after the match review panel today looks at an incident involving the Swan and Collingwood defender Shane Wakelin.

Unlike the punch that shook the AFL just three months ago and resulted in Hall's seven-week suspension, this time the key forward may have only brushed Wakelin. But he could still be charged.

The incident took place in the second quarter of Sydney's 29-point loss to the Magpies at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, and while it is debatable whether Hall actually connected when he thrust his right arm in Wakelin's direction, the reality is it may not matter.

Under the AFL's rules, Hall can be charged with "attempting to strike, kick or trip" an opponent. Such a charge carries 80 demerit points. On its own, that penalty would not constitute a match ban, but because of his infamous left hook to Brent Staker's chin, Hall has a loading of 50 per cent and 90 carryover points.

That would mean an additional 40 points (50 per cent of the penalty) would be added to the 90 carryover points. All up, that's 210 points - effectively a two-match ban.

However, an early guilty plea would earn a 25 per cent reduction, and Hall would miss only one match.

Of course, the Swans will hope that a review of the incident will show that Hall's action was more of a push or shrug - not a punch - and no sanction will be applied.

Wakelin was evasive when asked if Hall had connected with his chin: "Not with my chin, no," he said. "Some of the boys told me they saw it on the scoreboard afterwards, but I didn't even see it, so I'm not sure what happened. We'll have to see what happens on Monday night."

The defender hit the ground immediately after the incident, but was soon back on his feet. Wakelin said he was trying to "milk the free kick".

Not surprisingly, the Swans were not keen to speak about the matter after the game or yesterday.

Coach Paul Roos declared: "[I] didn't see anything, I haven't heard about anything and nobody has said anything to me."

Yesterday Sydney defender Craig Bolton, the Swans' best in the loss, also played a straight bat to questions. "I haven't seen it and haven't heard anything about it so I can't really comment on that," Bolton said.

Asked if the leadership group would look at an apparent lack of discipline at the Swans, the co-captain said: "I read something that there might have been a small incident and if there was we'll look at that and address it.

"Hally has been really good since he's come back and until I see otherwise there's no point speculating."

Sydney were very disappointing against Collingwood. Searching for their seventh win in succession, the Swans were comprehensively outplayed by the Magpies, who moved into fifth spot, just six points behind the Swans on the AFL ladder.

The Swans won the games they were expected to win in the first half of the season, but their run to the finals is much tougher, beginning with Hawthorn next week. The following seven rounds include clashes with the Western Bulldogs, Geelong and another bogey side, Adelaide.

"We've had a good run of late but last night was a bit of a wake-up," Bolton said. "They are a good side and we're going to come up against a lot of sides like that in the future, so we've really got to lift our intensity if we want to be competitive.

"We've got a really big back end of the season, we've got some really good teams we've got to come up against and play. While it is a wake-up call for us and we've got a lot of areas to improve on, we've still got a lot of good footy behind us and a lot of confidence going into the back part of the season.

"Hawthorn will be very challenging. They are probably the best forward line in the competition, or up there with Brisbane and Geelong and a couple of others. It's these sorts of games you've got to win.

"Last night was an example of that finals footy and you want to be playing well in those games and we didn't last night. It's going to be tough [against the Hawks] but I couldn't think of a better way to come back after Collingwood.

"I think it's good preparation for the finals. There's no point winning the easier sort of games if you can't win the tough, congested, finals- type games of football.

"It was a good opportunity for us last night and we threw it away but we've got another one this weekend."

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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