Brisbane premiership player Cam Rayner produced the third incident this week of AFL stars staging for free kicks, and he should be subject to scrutiny from the Match Review Officer (MRO) because of it.

Rayner joined Adelaide's Josh Rachele and Collingwood's Nick Daicos in playing for free kicks, with umpires somehow obliging the trio.

On Thursday, Rachele flopped forward after receiving contact from Hawthorn captain James Sicily. He was offered a $1500 fine, and can accept $1000 charge.

Daicos, after giving away a free kick for blocking the goal line, was rewarded a shot on goal after Eagles defender Reuben Ginbey bumped him. The umpire was fooled and gifted Collingwood six points.

The Pies son-of-a-gun didn't receive any scrutiny from the MRO, which is baffling.

Daicos, given his elite IQ and footy smarts, would've known how to draw a free kick in this instance. He did. 

Rayner, who can expect the same level of scrutiny as Rachele, 'earned' himself a free kick in a ruck contest.

The moment Giant Jake Riccardi made contact, the Lions gun fell to water.

It received a wry laugh from GWS coach Adam Kingsley, who couldn't believe it. Most can't. Another six points were awarded for the flopping.

And it's not the first time Rayner has acted in a similar vein. Last year's qualifying final against Geelong, the forward-midfielder made sure the umpire blew his whistle when he got tangled up with Mark O'Connor, turning a Cats shot on goal into a major for the Lions.

Getting in the face of Geelong defenders, Rayner received another free-kick on the stroke of half-time which should have been ignored. He instigated the situation. But as always, the retaliator was punished.

Daicos too leans into the opposition's distaste for him, admittedly because he's a star. But even some stars attempt to draw free kicks, however the umpires seemingly favour those who poll more votes in the Brownlow than those metaphorically warming the bench.

Staging brings the game into disrepute. Not only is it occurring, but the stars of the competition - the players whose numbers adorn the guernseys of children - are some of the main perpetrators.

Unchecked flopping at the senior level will, and does, translate to juniors footballers exhibiting the same behaviours.

Last year, there were six incidents where staging drew the meagre financial sanction that is currently the norm. Through Round 11 this year, the AFL has seen three after Rachele's indiscretion, with Rayner odds-on to become the fourth after Sunday's distasteful moment.

Calls have been made for a much dearer punishment than the measly $1000 fine. 

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir last year asked if a $10,000 fee would be enough for players to stop staging, while Nathan Buckley called for one-week suspensions.

An increase in penalty must be introduced.

1 COMMENT

  1. I can’t speak for the others but in Daicos’ case the umpire was standing right there with an unobstructed view. If he thought it was flopping he would have ignored it.

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