Whateley with Tom Morris - Wednesday | Full Show (15.04.26)
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What are the AFL Tribunal decisions for Butters and Collard?
Wednesday morning. This is your town. This is your station. This is Waitley. The AFL Tribunal has spoken twice. In the Lance Collard case, the young saint has been suspended for seven weeks, plus a further two suspended for the 2026 and 2027 seasons. Collard is shattered, and the saints, who pleaded for mercy and argued for a financial sanction rather than a suspension, are this morning considering appealing. And in the Zach Butters case, the stand-in port skipper was found guilty of using abusive language towards umpire Nick Foote. He's been fined $1,500. Incredibly disappointed with the result tonight. I stand by knowing what I said and what I didn't say, especially what I didn't say. I'd like to thank the club for the support.
Thank you. Port Adelaide is this morning weighing up its appeal options, but they can't yet decide, given the tribunal findings are yet to lob in their inbox. What was abundantly clear was that the slight discrepancies between Wines and Butters hurt Port's case, as did the shift between what Butters told Xander Maguire from Channel 7 post-game to what he said yesterday afternoon when cross-examined. The story has been divisive. Nick Foote was consistent from the outset in his evidence. Butters... wavered. There is a difference between knowingly lying and being mistaken. I don't think Zach Butters knowingly lied, but there is a chance he got it wrong, just as there is a chance that Nick Foote got it wrong.
At the centre of all this are two players who believe they've been hard done by. The CEO of the Players Association is James Gallagher, and he's with me this morning in the studio. James, good to see you. Good to see you, Tom. Timing is everything. A strongly worded statement this morning. Did the tribunal get it wrong with Zach Butters? I think, yeah. Yeah. I mean, we're, we're really disappointed with the outcome. Um, there's no doubt about that. Um, I think it would seem pretty clear that there's been a misunderstanding here. Um, I know I certainly have misheard many things in my life, but I think, um, it w it was pretty clear when watching the footy on Sunday night, you know, there was, um, Zach and Ollie were obviously mystified at why a 50 meter penalty had been paid.
Um, Zach obviously didn't interview immediately post-game. He didn't know at that point in time what the allegations were, and he was pretty clear about what he'd said. And then Zach and Ollie obviously gave that evidence again last night. And I hear the point that there were some slight discrepancies, but... These guys are playing a highly competitive game of football. And when it's, when it's come out of Zach's mouth, he's not thinking anything of it because he knows he hasn't done anything wrong. So I think for a tribunal to find, to be, to be confident enough to find that all All of those things don't point to the fact that the words weren't said. Yeah, really disappointed. Have you spoken to Zach?
Yeah, I have. What did he say? Look, we just had a good chat, and I think consistent with he made a very short statement, but he's really disappointed. And I think, unfortunately, the weight of evidence, which was in his favour, doesn't seem to have carried the day here, and that's concerning. Is he worried that he's been branded a liar? I think anytime a person gives evidence and it's not accepted, that sort of cuts quite deeply.
What is the reaction from Port Adelaide regarding Zach Butters' fine?
You know, I know Zach well enough. I know Ollie well. You know, these are guys that are, you know, really highly revered, true to their word. I don't think anyone's ever doubted that. And for the first time that's happened and I don't think that's a good thing for all of us. What about the role between umpires and players? Do you think it's been unhealthy this last 48 to 72 hours? I don't think it's helped, but I actually don't think this is necessarily about players being umpires. I don't know Nick Foote. I have no reason to doubt that, you know, what he said he thought he heard is what he thought he heard. He was focusing on umpiring the game. Zach and Ollie were focusing on playing it.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are the AFL Tribunal decisions for Butters and Collard?
0:00–3:31
2
What is the reaction from Port Adelaide regarding Zach Butters' fine?
3:31–5:50
3
How does the Players Association view the tribunal process?
5:50–16:04
4
What concerns are raised about umpire and player relationships?
16:04–59:04
5
What are the latest updates on Cameron Green's performance in T20 cricket?
59:04–59:55
6
How is the Gather Round event perceived by locals in Adelaide?
59:55–1:01:44
7
What were the controversies surrounding the Gather Round Guernseys?
1:01:44–1:03:26
8
What impact does the IPL have on international players like Cameron Green?
1:03:26–1:53:10
Speakers
9 identifiedMore from Whateley
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