The Don't Argue

[SwansWay]

Something has been bothering me for a while now and I'd like to see what you all think.

The famous "Don't Argue" that all the commentators love. Many of them hit opposition players in the face. When did that stop being a free kick for a high fend-off? A lot of other players aside from Dusty are lauded for pushing players in the face and neck.

[Piethagoras' Theorem]

Can't say I've taken much notice but there's one free kick that's definitely been thrown out the window and that's the kicking in danger rule. Never see that paid anymore

[BazBoy]

Needs to —no make that I’d like him to give Sier the face massage

Be taking him arm home in his kit bag

[barrackers]

Hopefully taking some lessons from Maynard who barged through Martin's fend off and laid a smashing tackle earlier in the year. Martin didn't know what hit him.

[WhyPhilWhy?]

I’m sure I’ve seen a free kick paid when the fend-off is in the face.

(Is Kicking In Danger still a specific rule? I have a memory of it being replaced with a more “dangerous play” rule.)

[HAL]

Interesting. I have a lot of answers to silly questions.

[K]

[stui magpie]

[SwansWay]

I just found this article from last year:

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2017/11/16/razor-ray-explains-why-dusty-isnt-pinged-for-fend-offs/

I watch Richmond quite a bit and I would say that many of Dustin's fend-offs are high. I noticed Cunnington got away with it too yesterday.

[What'sinaname]

Not an issue

If you push the face, the umpire usually pays the free for high contact.

Sure, a few get through, but I reckon the vast majority are paid high.

[K]

Against GWS, Dusty tried a fend-off and failed miserably but was able to get a scrappy kick away. A minute later, he ducked into a tackle, didn't get the free he wanted and instead was pinged for holding the ball.

[foreigner]

Just pull his arm out of it's socket, that'll put a stop to it

[BazBoy]

What came first —Dustin and his “Don’t argue or the media frenzy the cabbage patch media pushed on us

Would he have increased this tactic if media had not built it up

[SwansWay]

If you popularise something that's the smartest way to ensure that a tactic that might normally be a free kick becomes a trademark instead. Just like when the media fawned over Hawthorn's "unsociable football".

[Damien]

Dont argue, don’t argue, Huttons footy francs are best!