Oh, it's a tough one. I mean, I was right there as a player and I obviously didn't know the outcome of what happened to Duggan, but I thought it was the perfect tackle. And, you know, I was telling him he was a bit rattled by it, um, instantly a bit I always said, and the umpire, whatever I'm saying at the time, that it was a perfect tackle. So, it's a, it's a very harsh, um, penalty, but I mean, what do you do? It's hard to, um, as a player these days, like personally, like I go into tackles now, worried about what's, what the outcome's going to be. Um, so you're very hesitant in what you're doing and I feel like that's going to impact everyone across the competition, because guys are going to potentially hold back a little bit and I don't know if that's what we want. Oh, well, I personally don't think you can do much different because, you know, you're coming forward to put some pressure on and, you know, he gets the ball and, um, unfortunately he gets concussed in the tackle, but, well, as a player, we run out there every week knowing well and truly that you can get hurt. Brisbane's Josh Dunkley talking about the three weeks suspension for Charlie Cameron. Here's Toby Green on his reaction to his team mate, Toby Bedford's three week band. Oh, when I first saw it on the day, uh, I remember I was standing next to Nathan Broad and having a discussion about it, we saw the replayings, I thought, well, if Tim's, if Tim's concussed, then they might give it a week and, and then you probably challenge it. And, um, Broady was sort of accepting of that and said that it probably, he goes, oh, he goes, oh, I think he'll be alright for that one. So that was what we thought initially on the day. And then once he got three weeks, it just doesn't seem right, doesn't seem right to me. He's just making it a legitimate play on the, on the, on Tim who has the ball is, I just don't think he has any other option. Toby Green's reaction to the Toby Bedford suspension. So they're upheld last night. That also a Valax Davies of the Gold Coast. Scotty, what is this talking? All things footy. Thanks to Sonos multi room listening wireless home theater. And more Scotty, what's your, what, welcome first and foremost? And what's your reaction to those suspensions being handed out of the tribunal last night? Oh, it's mind blowing, really. Um, it's time for the AFL coaches and, and players to, to, in the end of this year, there needs to be a summit where ultimately those groups are coming together to open some communication around how the laws are being set, how they're being implemented by employers, which is almost impossible, but most importantly, there is now confusion amongst coaches and players on how they actually can, um, in some way stick to these laws that have been said, it is impossible for players. You know, they are doing the, I think the players have done an amazing job this year on making some adjustments to holding players in tackles and not slinging them to the ground. I think they've done an excellent job of doing that, but this has now got to a point where it's, it's so frustrating for players and coaches and coming next to be done. It is. And, uh, and I was listening to Kane Corns on the drive in this morning and he just said to have a prosecutor saying, Oh, well, you should release one arm that clearly hasn't played the game. And that's the issue. We've got people who are arguing on behalf of the AFL for these sanctions to be upheld lawyers, lawyers who don't understand the, the workings of a game in the heat of battle. It just doesn't make sense that we can have those conversations. No, you spot on. I mean, I think when, when things go wrong between the AFL, the game and the players, it's where bureaucrats get involved in administration, gets involved and they have no feel for what actually happens. So if you look over the last 10 or 20 years, the amount of communication that's been able to occur between players, coaches and unpliers becomes has become less and less and less. Now, I understand initially, it's making sure that unpliers are protected and they should be, you know, it's such an important role in the game. But where there's lack of communication and lack of consultation, there ends up being issues and we've now got issues where the game. It's not un-pirable for one of a better word. It's certainly not possible for players to deliver on what the AFL edict is. So it's time to come together with some common sense. Sitting underneath all of this, guys, as we know, is the concerns and the litigation concerns around concussion, which needs to still be paramount. But ultimately, we've got a game now that can't be played by the players. They cannot do a better job than what they're doing right now. We got scoffed at this. I reckon it was brought up last year. And again, this year, we had a text about it the other day about the AFL will eventually take out the hanger because if you need goes up into the back of someone's head, and you knock them out, it's probably not an alarmist. But if you've got concerns about our game, Scotty? Look, I think the game is in a really, it's been an interesting stage for a while. And there's two mitigating factors that are changing the shape of that game. One is, tactically, what's been allowed to happen over 10 to 20 years now with so many players in one portion of the ground. Right, it's changed what the game looks like. It's changed the types of players that we've got playing. And it's actually aesthetically, the game, I always go back to, you know, Peter Matera, 92 grand final bouncing down the wind, kicking, you know, three or four goals. That doesn't occur anymore because the tactically, the game has changed. So that's one side of it. And then the other thing that is now changing the whole fabric of the game is we are jumping at shadows around the litigation concerns around concussion and injury to players on all four players being 100% safe or as safe as they can be in a contact sport. But there is always going to be an inherent risk of playing a contact sport. But we are, I feel like we're now jumping at shadows and really changing too much of the game is changing. If I was a player now or if you're a player now, you would be putting your hands in the air, not knowing what to do. Do I tackle? I can't bump. The bumps, you know, that's gone. I can't tackle now. I can't tackle someone to the ground. So the game is just changing before our eyes. And I think, I think the frustration as a supporter and someone who's been around the game for 40 or 50 years is these decisions are made on the run and they're very reactive. Isn't it time that we sat down and planned out like any good business would plan? What do we want the game to look like? And how do we as custodians of the game protect it for the next 10, 20, 30 years? It needs to be much longer term decision making and it's very reactionary knee jerk reaction to whatever happens on one weekend. It's short term thinking and it's not good enough. You think there'll ever be a time it'll ever get to a stage where we go a little old school and, you know, there were times where you say you enter at your own risk. Do you think there'll be a time where players are asked and they'll have a form to sign and say we will do everything possible to keep you safe and to make sure that our best medical practices are in place at all occasions, but you do play this game at your own risk. Or do you think they'll have too big a detrimental effect on players coming through and parents allowing players to play footy? Oh, that's a really big question, but isn't there a risk in your contact sport? There is always a risk. So whether that now needs to be, you know, are we going to get to the point where we're signing away? This may be, but, you know, unless because the option, I mean, I don't know how you take the combative contact nature out of Australian or football and still remain in Australian or football. So I'm all for duty of care, right? The players are amazing and it takes a lot of courage to get out on a, you know, on a field where you've got, you know, 40 bodies running around in tight confined spaces. However, there's always going to be contact. You're never going to mitigate completely against some of those challenges that are going to occur. So I can see it, Scotty, I can see a time when, in a players contract, you've actually got to accept, you know, signing a waiver, you know, ultimately, before I have to go and compete, knowing that there is risk in this type of game. Scotty Waters is our guest. We're talking all things footy on this Wednesday. With something we haven't spoken about, the Scotty Cummings and yourself, Scotty, if something was raised on the national broadcast yesterday here in Perth, then the WA Football Commission has asked coaches. Of junior teams, which are being unpired by 13, 14 and 15 year olds, not to shake hands post game, because coaches are using that as a forum to shake a young man's hand and make detrimental and abusive remarks to them. And we're losing umpires in the game because they're using that as a way of getting close to the umpires because you can't approach them. So you will have to show the hand and say you are useless to your immediate. Correct. And now the Football Commission has got to a stage where it's reached boiling point where umpires are now going. We don't want to hear it. And we actually fear actually someone coming up to us at the end of the game. Thoughts on that? And is it a sad indictment on the game that we're at? It might not just be a WA. An indictment on parenting and mental. They're the future umpires of our game right there, right now. What do you make of that, Scotty? Well, I see it every weekend. I've had my three boys, 19, 17, 15. So I've spent a lot of time with them in recent years as they go through their junior football ranks. And again, on the weekend, on Sunday, I'm watching a game of under 15s. And I heard one opposition supporter yell out, "I'll give you 20 bucks if you're knocking out." No. Right now, that sort of thing, unfortunately, occurs. If it's not every week, it's every second week, something like that comes up in a game. So what I've suggested this before, there are so many players, you know, you look at AFL players, you go through the system, they understand the importance of teamwork, camaraderie, building community, and they're lost to the game, right? Just to just imagine if the AFL could actually shape community football much more than what they currently do, they give it lip service, they don't support it anywhere near strongly enough as they should, because they're always focused on just the elite level product. But by putting a bit more focus on the community football, they could change the narrative and change the conversations that occur, particularly around parents, coaches, and umpires. So my suggestion has always been, imagine if there was a, well, a Scotty Cummins, right? So, you know, going to, you're employed by the AFL, and every junior footy ground has an AFL, an X AFL player that is there to bring coaches together, bring the parents together, at the start of every day, and actually talks to them about, hey guys, we're here today for the kids, you know, this is not about whether they win or lose at 13 or 14 or 15 years of age, this is about creating a great environment where they're safe, supported, and can actually start to live their dreams, not yours as a parent, theirs as a young kid. Now, if we had some people of the york of a Scotty Cummins or a Peter material, or whoever, X AFL players, coaches and players and parents would listen, right? But we don't, we've got uneducated coaches sitting in some of those roles, and in many ways, we've got some uneducated parents that sit around. The kids just want to play and have a great time, right? We could do a much better job of changing what community football should be, and sadly, you know, if I look at the last eight to 10 years, I've lost a lot of junior-free games, I think it's getting worse, and I think it is an issue. And it's one that could be addressed if the AFL was going to say, got their head out of there, but I won't. They need to focus a little bit more on how they can support local level football. They've got so much money, guys, they don't spend it in the right places. Good point. Scotty, what is it? We're talking footy. So this time last week, the Eagles made a change in regards to their coach, Adam Simpson. It was a bit clunky the day, but after that, it was very well handled. He was very, very much loved departing the scene. He gave plenty back. He's still very much a West Coast man. He's very proud of his time. His family loved his time there, but it was time to move on. Thoughts on the process now for West Coast? If I know you're on the East Coast, and obviously that's where most of the chances going to come from, but you also had a connection with Jared Schofield, who is in the hot seat for the next six weeks, at least after coaching on the weekend. What are your thoughts about the possible replacement? Well, firstly, I think it was always a difficult circumstance, but I thought they handled it pretty well. I thought the send-off on the ground was really well handled. I'm glad he didn't coach on the day. I think he made the right call around that. So, you know, outside of, I guess, that initial press conference, where it's never going to be perfect, I thought it was all done pretty well. It's interesting now, isn't it? I know, I think, there's calls, even from New Ghost, that Dean Cox should come out and declare his hand. And I completely understand that. I don't think that's going to happen until he or Sydney have really lined up what they're doing internally. And if I was Sydney, and if I was also Dean Cox, it wouldn't be the top list of my priorities. So, I don't think we're going to hear a lot unless they come out and he just hoses down and shuts down the West Coast Eagles opportunity. He's a standout, right, if you look at the experience and that he had that experience on the Houston Seaboard, I think, adds to what he can then bring back to Western Australia. You mentioned Jared, I think Jared, I was impressed last week when he came in and he's made some, he's got to make some calls, I think. So, some of the decisions that he made around players, he's better off making some tough decisions and seeing what happens, seeing where the green shoots may appear in the next five or six weeks. There's some really strong Eastern states contenders for the role. Gene Siracuser, who's someone who's done a lot of work behind the scenes. And I know he wouldn't be a big name in Western Australia, but I like him. So, it'll be interesting, but everything sits behind Ben Cox at the moment. And I think we all know that if you were Ben Cox, he could use this to actually increase the amount of money that he's getting paid at Sydney, where he's highly valued. He could sit there for another four or five years under no pressure, being a two IC under no pressure. And maybe he sits back and waits another two or three years to see where the Eagles list is going, because there's still a lot of work to be done on that Eagles list, there's two or three years, so you've got to be very careful, I think, when you enter a list as a coach. So, it's going to be a fascinating one to watch what his decision is. Oh, James, the topic, you're a part of interstate teams from the beginning, right? So, West Coast and Fremantle. Why can't Gold Coast travel? And hell, and it didn't take West Coast that long, and it didn't take Fremantle that long to learn how to do it and to start winning on the road. What's going on with a team that, or you're probably geographically closest to in the Gold Coast, when they get on a plane, they turn into de-grade amos. Well, I think often it's around the expectations that are being set internally. And one thing that we know, within the, who's obviously been a successful coach, he's now turning up the heat on what the expectations are. So, often players, they're in a different environment. It's not an AFL environment. So, they start winning those games at home, Scotty, and that's almost enough to sort of, I guess, keep pressure away because their expectations were so low. But the expectations are rising. That list has got some serious talent on it now. It's got a premiership coach sitting there. So, I do feel like the pressure rightfully so is now starting to come back on to the player group to win away because they've got the talent. So, I think for Gold Coast, they haven't had a great list for a period of time. And I think that's set very low expectations, but that's changing. You know, if you look over this 12-month period, just expectations are certainly rising now because the talent, what's coming through their academies is really strong from a talent point of view. So, it is the next challenge for them to win away. They've said good enough, but it's changing the mindset of just what's acceptable. Winning it home and losing away is now no longer good enough for that group. Agree. Security host West Coast at Marvel on Saturday. I just think West Coast win this game. I just think they've got to comply. 75% of what they played against Brisbane. And we know what security we're going to do sharp. Make it a shootout for West Coast. Don't worry about if Security want to get behind the ball and make it an eight goals to seven game. Take the game on, and we mentioned it to Tim Kelly yesterday. Lose 25 goals to 22, don't matter. No drama. No drama. Just take the game on. It's only seven or six. What's your thoughts about wasting kill or applying at the moment, Scotty, and what they're doing to footy, because they're very, very unwatchable? And look, probably had been for a long period of time. But keep 12 goals and you win. It's that simple. So, you know, against St. Kilda, they will try and slow you down. They'll sit numbers behind the ball. They'll put numbers around the stoppage. You know, it's very predictable what Ross Lyon has been doing and continues to do. It's an outdated way to win games of football. So, you know, if I'm Jared Scowfield, I'm being very aggressive around our offence. And literally setting it's in the target, you know, you keep 10 to 12 goals. You'll almost have enough to win. And that's not unachievable with the talent that they've got. And some of their players are starting to, I think, Sudden, to show some really good signs. Liam Ryan, I think, offensively, has been great to see him sort of start to get back and take a little bit more leadership, you know, within games as well. So, pretty simple. Open the map, kick 12 goals, and you'll beat them because they're not going to score any more than that. They never focus on it. They never have. Appreciate it. Always good to chat with you, Scotty. You can't from carbon up. It just says it's not on the AFL. It's on the adults. Do we need to have adults teaching adults how to behave? Wow. Let's rely on others to guide us on how to behave. We must all be bloody dumb. The idiots get so much air time with the media. It just encourages them. It's a way of the world. Give idiots air time. So, that's normal to be an idiot. Can't from carbon up. That's social media, aren't you, Michelle? Exactly right. Good on you. Appreciate it. Thanks, Scotty. Always good to chat. Learning our sets are always good. Scotty Watters, talkin' with him for a while, yeah. - Tells you me.
