Would a $10,000 fine help prevent players from staging? Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir thinks so.
On Friday night, Brisbane's Cam Rayner became public enemy No.1 after he flopped for a free kick against Geelong, which turned the contest during the second quarter. He was awarded another shot on goal as the Cats retaliated, which also drew negative attention from the home fans.
MORE: AFL addresses pair of controversial Rayner free kicks
During Saturday's game, Dockers forward Patrick Voss was able to move Gold Coast defender Wil Powell to the ground and was penalised.
At the time, Fremantle was one point down. The Suns would kick four goals in a row.
"For me, the Gold Coast player goes and makes contact with Voss, trying to stop his run, so the stronger guy (Voss) ends up on his feet," Longmuir said.
"It's just a big penalty."
SCENES at the MCG?!?!
Cam Rayner gets one free kick, kicks the goal ... then gets another free kick, and kicks another goal!
— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 5, 2025
As it stands, players can be charged for staging, despite the league's attempted crackdown years ago, suggesting that match suspensions were in the realm of possibility.
Albeit a rare occurrence, stars can be fined $1,500 for a first offence ($1,000 guilty plea).
Longmuir says increasing the penalty to $10,000 will definitely remove the act.
"It's easy to stamp out - fine them. Players don't like getting fined, so just fine them and you tidy that stuff up," Longmuir said.
"Three years ago, or two years ago, we tidied up ducking your head to try and draw the free kick.
"If someone flops and it's recognised as a flop, just fine them. Give them 10 grand, and then it'll tidy itself up.
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"Players adapt really well to what the rules are, and if there's lenience in the rule, they'll find little gaps to draw three kicks.
"And I don't blame them for doing that, because they're looking for any advantage. They're so competitive, they're looking for any advantage they can in the game.
"But we just need to not reward it, and then if we do reward it in a game accidentally, well, fine them. It will get tidied up quick as."
So far in 2025, there have been six instances where players were fined for staging.
Mitch Hinge, Darcy Wilmot, Izak Rankine, Mark Keane, Oliver Dempsey and Ben Hobbs were all sanctioned. Miraculously, Rayner was not.
