Questions that need to be asked when looking at these incidents. You have to view each action in isolation of another because every action can potentially be sanctionable.
Did this happen after the whistle?
Who started it?
What was the intention of the player?
What degree of force/speed was used?
What part of the opponent did he make contact with?
What is the risk of injury or propensity to cause injury from this action?
Whom continued the escalation of the incident?
For Manny:
1) part of the initial incident or a cheap shot after the whistle?
2) a retaliation and an escalation, but still part of an inital physical entanglement.
3) not premeditated, but still an illegal action
4) It doesn't appear to be too bad from watching it- however was the damage to Roy from the elbow or headbut?
5) face. That's not good. It didn't appear to me initially that much contact was made.
6) I'd say a fairly low risk of injury. Especially compared to challenges studs up into ankles or knees. It isn't particularly forceful or violent IMO which has changed 3 times on 3 viewings.
7) This was a continuation and a retaliation to an irritating, but non-violent foul.
For O'Donovan it appears to be a pre-meditated and violent action which is not linked to any other on-going play, a serious escalation which could have lead to concussion or other potentially more serious injuries.
Chris doesn't mention prior record- Manny broke Marco's jaw and has in the past been quite a dirty player. The disappointing thing here is that he is a player we are (had been) looking to to fill a leadership gap and he had been playing at CB much better than I expected.
At the risk of....surely the FFA have to come down hard on O'Donovan. To preach a family game and ban fans on that basis and then let a brawler walk or be leniently punished (3/4 weeks) would be hypocritical. On the other hand there are a lot of under-currents here and the 'Nix don't have that many friends this year in head office it would seem.
