The West Coast Eagles and Richmond Tigers may have had to battle the wet and windy weather at Paterson’s Stadium in Perth, but Richmond’s Tyrone Vickery will have to weather a storm at the tribunal.
A controversial swinging arm to the lower face of West Coast’s Dean Cox has put Vickery in a spot of trouble.
With three minutes left in the second quarter of the Friday night game, Vickery and the soon-to-be-retired Cox challenged for a throw-in near Richmond’s attacking 50.
Moments before the strike, the field umpire was recorded during the live telecast warning Cox about an elbow to the chest of Vickery. The Tiger, obviously furious at the ruckman’s aggression, lashed out at Cox’s face with a swinging left hand as his right was attempting to bat away the boundary umpire’s throw-in.
Even though Vickery had his eyes on the ball and attempted to make the strike look as though it occurred during a legal motion, Cox was already half way to the grass by the time the ball reached Vickery.
As West Coast players reacted to the strike, Cox lay facedown and motionless in the turf. A conscious Cox was helped to his feet by two West Coast Eagles staff and aided off the field, eventually being subbed-out out of the game at half time for Simon Tunbridge.
In June, Vickery was suspended for two matches after striking North Melbourne’s Michael Firrito. He still holds carryover points from that incident.
Richmond defeated West Coast 59 to 42.
Cat
Roar Guru
punch verb : to hit (someone or something) hard with your fist Vickery didn't use a fist, therefore it cannot be a king hit by your definition.
shiftyxr
Guest
insufficient force to constitute a reportable offence. Cox just happened to cop it in the sweet spot but if your gunna run around throwing elbows your gunna cop it back.
alicesprings
Guest
Richmonds reciters of years past are obviously amateur hour…how the hell did Vickery go so high in the draft?!
Gregor
Guest
At the best he was probably hoping to break Cox's nose seeing that his swing was measured,used a closed fist and was a forward blow - and therefore deliberate.Cox just jumped too high,maybe.... Vickery was being beaten by an old bloke and didn't like it. Vickery,Cotchin and Hardwick are all weak,not tough and hard at all
Don Freo
Guest
There can't be anyone who understands footy who actually thinks what Lake and Vickery did is ok...is there, Bosk?
jax
Guest
Cotchin and Hardwick should hang their heads in shame after those comments. I hope those statements follow them for the rest of their careers and that karma takes care of the rest, disgraceful attitude.
jax
Guest
Wikipedia definition of a king hit below. How can you say this was not a king hit? "A sucker punch, also known as a king-hit or coward-punch, is a punch made without warning, allowing no time for preparation or defense on the part of the recipient. The term is generally reserved for situations where the way in which the punch has been delivered is considered unfair or unethical. In practice, this often includes punches delivered from close-range or behind."
jax
Guest
Totally disagree that Vickery was only trying to block/shepherd Cox from the ruck contest, that's laughable. Vickery is a boxer or kick boxer, trained by his father just like Barry Hall was so he would know better than most what he was doing. Close your eyes and put your arm out to your side and then tell me that you don't know what height your arm is in relation to your body, pfft.
jax
Guest
An little elbow tap to Ty's chest that did no harm (he had the energy to front up and king hit / round arm Cox in the face seconds afterwards) does not justify the hit on Cox, period!
Cat
Roar Guru
Sorry I don't buy into BS conspiracy theories. I make my own judgements. Intentionally climbing on top of someone and wrapping your hands around their throat is far worse than stupidly swinging your arm back with an open hand while only having eyes for the ball. Vickery's was a dumb clumsy sheppard attempt to block Cox from getting to the ball first, something done, albeit correctly, 100 times a game. Pinning someone to the ground and wrapping hands around a throat has no relation to anything in the game and has no place on the ground. PS: I never heard whatever was said, I didn't watch the game, I watched the clip of the incident on my PC without sound.
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Petrie was unaffected by Lake's actions and went on to play a great game, something extremely unlikely had he actually been choked. Cox on the other hand was knocked out cold and played no part in the rest of the match. Clearly you bought into staunch Cats man and famous Hawthorn-hater Tom Harley doing his best during the broadcast to make the Lake incident seem as as sinister as possible, something I couldn't help but notice Tom doing earlier in the year with the Roughead/McGlynn bump. So tell me Gene, had Tom Harley & Cameron Ling lost the 2008 grand final to Richmond instead of Hawthorn do you think they'd now be dragging Vickery's reputation through the mud with as much glee as they did Lake's?
Mat
Guest
As bad as the hit was, its made worse when no one at Richmond seems to show any remorse. Cotchin pretty much endorsed it: “To see one of the greats go down it was a bit of a positive [no one likes to see a player injured but] he’s one of their better players so obviously that’s a plus for us.” - Cotchin on SEN and Hardwick didn't seem perturbed in the slightest. I get that a coach would stand by his players, but at least show a little disappointment that poor judgment will lead to one of your players sitting out a few weeks. Maybe Vickery should feel insulted that Dimma doesn't see him a key inclusion in the team.
Boris
Guest
Are you serious, don't throw elbows if you can't handle the consequences. Cox got what he deserved.
MFairPlay
Roar Guru
4 - 8 weeks I reckon, depends if it goes to the tribunal
Jim
Guest
Gutless spud throwing a roundhouse cowards punch. 6 weeks would be fine. Chocko and Dimwit would be happy with that as it had a major impact on the game.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
The hit was dirty, deliberately malicious and dumb but like Flick says I don't reckon he meant to knock him out. 4 weeks I guess. Not half as bad as Barry Hall who deliberately meant to knock out Staker. Hall should have got 16 weeks and Lockett 22.
slane
Guest
How is watching a spud do something stupid going to teach kids the wrong message? The commentators and fans weren't exactly praising Vickery. Anybody who watched the incident and came away thinking punching somebody is ok should probably be institutionalized.
slane
Guest
Good outcome for the Tigers. They got the win and that peanut Vickery will be out for the rest of the season. Couldn't ask for more really!
Cat
Roar Guru
So a backhand to the face, while watching the flight of the ball, that happened to knock Cox out is worse than intentionally climbing on top of a bloke on the ground and wrapping your hands around their throat? Couldn't disagree more. Both deserve suspensions and I suspect Ty will get roughly the same as lake got.
Bosk
Roar Rookie
If Brian Lake copped 4 weeks then Vickery deserves no less than 10. Difference is that Vickery won't be crucified by the media the way Lake was.