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In the past week the AFL’s tribunal has found both St Kilda’s Lance Collard and Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters guilty of saying something mean that someone else on the field took offence to. Both players and their respective clubs are adamant the accusation is false.

The judicial process in the AFL has long been a basket case. For several seasons, punishments have not passed the pub test, and there is no shortage of social media commentators calling for the sacking of Match Review Officer Michael Christian, who in the opinions of many seems to be faking it until he makes it, although in this case both players were referred striaght to the tribunal.

Collard was accused by an opposing player of using a homophobic slur. There is no audio of the incident, only witness testimony. Collard has been guilty of making a homophobic slur in the past, which he readily admitted in that instance.

Butters allegedly made comments implying an umpire of being paid to favour the opposition. There is again no audio of the incident. Butters is infamously the most fined player in AFL history as a result of numerous onfield discretions.

In real world courts, the accused is presumed to be innocent unless proven guilty. I find it impossible to see how there is remotely enough evidence in either case to come to a guilty verdict in a criminal court. Same again in the case of Butters if it was a civil court, Collard might be 50/50.

It seems in both cases however that the players have been found guilty purely on reputation and past offenses. It is certainly believable based on prior behaviour that both players could have made the comments they are accused of. But the fact that both players proclaim their innocence plays against this, as why would they deny behaviour that is semmingly in character for them?

Not only is the lack of due process from the AFL tribunal alarming, the AFL could have trouble in the real world courts if the players are as innocent as they claim to be. Particularly in the case of Collard, if he’s innocent then there is a good chance this entire process constitutes defamation. Considering the AFL is already facing legal proceedings regarding duty of care around head trauma, I doubt the executives are keen on dealing with additional legal dramas.

Homophobia and umpire abuse are absolutely things that need to be stamped out. But crucifying innocent players in a desperate attempt to look tough isn’t going to be how that is achieved.

If the players are innocent as claimed, I hope they, their clubs and the AFLPA takes this into the real world courts. Maybe this is what the AFL needs to wake up.

Australia’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign has come to an end at the hands of Afghanistan, first by losing to them in Kingstown, before Afghanistan beat Bangladesh two days later to qualify for the semi finals outright without needing to rely on NRR. It is the first time Afghanistan have made the semi finals of a World Cup, continuing their astonishing rise through the ranks. India and South Africa remain the only full member nations that Afghanistan have not beaten, with maiden victories over Australia and New Zealand in this T20 World Cup.

It is particularly ironic that Australia’s elimination came thanks to Afghanistan. Australia have, in the last 3 years, cancelled a one off test, an ODI series and a T20i series. The reason cited in each instance is a lack of womens rights under Taliban governance. It would be ignorant to discount economic factors in the wake of the COVID pandemic as part of the reasoning as well, particularly in the instance of the test match Australia were scheduled to host. In that same period of time, Australia have faced Afghanistan three times at World Cups: T20 World Cup in Adelaide in 2022 (a game I attended), ODI World Cup in India in 2023 and now the T20 World Cup in the Americas. In fact, the teams have only met once outside of an ICC tournament, in 2012 as a warmup game for a series against Pakistan, when Afghanistan had only recently received ODI status.

I don’t disagree that human rights abuses are cause for concern, but if Cricket Australia wants to take a hardline stance and not face Afghanistan in bilateral series, then they should be forfeiting their World Cup matches against them as well. It wouldn’t be unprecedented either, with multiple games at the 2003 ODI World Cup being forfeited. So it’s only fitting that the team Australia has refused to play unless there’s a trophy at stake has knocked them out.

My personal opinion, like Usman Khawaja, is that Australia should be playing these bilateral series. One of the criteria for being a full member nation is to have pathways and national sides for womens cricket, but it should be up to the ICC to make the judgement to strip or suspend their status as a full member, which by the letter of the law they arguably should have by now. If Cricket Australia don’t want to do that, then they should also forfeit World Cup games, instead of getting to pick and choose the moral high ground when silverwear and prize money is up for grabs.

Notably in other sports, in 2024 Australia have faced Israel (ice hockey) and Palestine (soccer), nations/states (depending on your definition) that are both locked in a war where it is undeniable that both sides are committing war crimes.

I hope that Afghanistan go all the way to win the 2024 T20 World Cup from here. I think the conditions suit them best here more than anywhere else, and it would continue to show that the playing field in international cricket is finally starting to level out. It would cap off a great tournament on the field, where co-hosts USA beat Pakistan to make the Super 8s and Canada beat full member Ireland.

To Afghanistan, congratulations and good luck for the rest of the tournament. To Cricket Australia, you deserve nothing less. If your moral concerns are truly that serious, then it’s about time you stop your hypocrisy and start forfeiting your World Cup games, instead of having a foot in each camp and only playing when there’s a financial incentive to do so.

It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, and there’s been some big things happen in that time, but with the new 2024/25 season fast approaching it’s time to set some goals for the upcoming season.

The last 2 years have seen me transition from a spin bowler batting in the tail, to a top order keeper batsman. I’ve never fully recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in 2020, and in the last 2 years it has deteriorated significantly to the point where I can no longer bowl. Thankfully, my batting and keeping have improved to balance that out somewhat.

For 2024/25, I will be aiming for 200 runs and 10 dismissals, and at least one 50+ score. This is in line with what I’ve achieved in the past 2 seasons, although I’m anticipating playing most of my cricket this coming season in a higher grade than those two seasons. I feel that now I am consistently scoring runs now that this has to be the standard moving forward.

Season	Club	Matches	Runs	Average	High Score
2023	Brighton & Hove (UK)	12	216	27.00	102*
2023/24	Victor Harbor	17	201	11.94	60

A lot will depend on the makeup of the squad and what grade I play in as to whether this is achievable. I’m expecting to play mostly A Grade, and if I do I am unlikely to bat in the top 3 like I have the past 2 seasons. There is also a far more accomplished keeper at the club although they haven’t been available often, if that changes then I might not keep at all. However if the club recruits well, then I could be playing C Grade most weeks and if so will almost certainly be taking the gloves and would expect to bat in the top order.

There’s still a lot of uncertainty about how my season will look, but one thing that is for certain, I need to keep scoring runs.

In the past month or so, I have permanently moved to Victor Harbor in South Australia. Unfortunately that brings to end my playing days at Coomera Hope Island. It’s a great club and I’ve loved playing there these past two seasons. I even managed to take a wicket with my very first ball for the club, in a trial game again Helensvale. Hopefully I’ll get another game up there at some point in the future.

These are my stats playing for Coomera

Games	Runs	Best	Wickets	Best	Ct/Ro
31	104 @ 8.00	18	36 @ 21.64	4/42	13/2

This season I’ll be playing mainly for Victor Harbor. I’ve played just two games for Victor so far, with just one run and one wicket. I’ll also be playing a few rounds for Lenswood Ranges, as their season starts earlier than it does for Victor Harbor.

I’ll certainly be looking to beat my highest score of just 18 this season. All up I’m aiming to score 100 runs and take more than 20 wickets, both very attainable I believe.

Can’t wait for the new season to start.