Richmond’s hardened win over West Coast on Friday night was overshadowed by an ugly incident between Richmond’s Tyrone Vickery and Eagles big man Dean Cox.
Jostling at a ruck contest, Vickery extended his arm across the face of Cox, connecting with his jaw and knocking him unconscious.
He was later subbed out of the match after failing a concussion test.
Cox, who recently announced his retirement come the end of the season, was cleared of any structural damage.
But was it a classic case of the retaliator being pegged as the instigator?
Moments before the actual incident in question, both players exchanged a usual bout of push and shove, however, Cox was warned by the field umpire for clearly elbowing Vickery in the chest.
Only a few rounds ago, Hawthorn’s Brian Lake was suspended for choking North Melbourne’s Drew Petrie, after it was alleged Petrie tried to claw and gouge at Lake’s face only moments prior as they wrestled on the ground.
The former was given a four-game ban, whilst the latter overturned a 125-point penalty.
Neither action should be condoned or justified in any way, but it shows that sometimes the retaliator is the one that cops a penalty because their actions are twice as forceful as that which was dished upon them.
It is a culmination of frustration, anger and lack of response by the umpire to discipline the original act by the offending party.
Getting on the front foot to lessen the fallout following the incident, Vickery made a public apology.
“In the heat of the game I overstepped the mark with my physicality and aggression,” Vickery said.
“I’m very remorseful for that and I unreservedly apologise to Dean and his family.”
But the apology may count for little given 43.75 carry-over points from an earlier suspension for striking North Melbourne’s Michael Firrito in Round 12 will inflate whatever points he is given for the Cox incident.
Vickery will today find out if he will face the wrath of the MRP or be sent straight to the tribunal.
Cat
Roar Guru
And this instance wasn't even a punch.
Cat
Roar Guru
"Cox gets punched in the side of the head" "clock someone in the jaw" Which is it, in the jaw or side of the head? The overblown reactions of some people are really hilarious. 4 weeks for mine (maybe 5 with carryover points/loading).
Sancho
Guest
Me too mate! Vickery will get extra time on the sidelines due too the glass jaw on Coxy.
Simon
Guest
I'm yet to see any conduct on a footy field that warrants having your lights punched out as a legitimate retaliation. The only thing saving Vickery is that his eyes were on the ball. As such, it could be found reckless and not intentional. But it's definitely high contact, high impact.
Dave
Guest
Never seen such a big man go down so easy!!
Dave
Guest
Never seen such a big man go down so easy!!
AR
Guest
Cox elbowed Vickery and Vickery retaliated...way beyond what was reasonable (like Lake). And like Lake, he'll get 4-5 weeks.
DJW
Guest
What an absolute joke of an article. Cox gets punched in the side of the head and knocked out cold but its ok cause Cox through an elbow prior, something that probably happens in numerous ruck contests. Its a total gutless act to clock someone in the jaw who isn't even looking at you. Vickery should get 4 weeks minimum.
TomC
Roar Guru
Retaliator, but so what? Doesn't change what he did. This year there've been a lot of players who've copped a cheap shot in the midriff and folded like a pack of cards in order to win a free kick. Sometimes it's even resulted in the perpetrator copping a suspension. That's the wrong way to respond, but it's a hell of a lot better than thumping a bloke in the jaw.
BigAl
Guest
re. Vickery and his public apology to Cox . . . and his family ! My word what a fine upstanding man this young Vickery must be ?? I am so sick of public apologies (for EVERYTHING !) they are a dime a dozen these days - and FREEEE!!! on the Internet - i.e.worthless ! Also, as I posted the other day I had a bit of a chuckle re. Hardwick expressing disdain at the way Vickery was abused by Eagles fans - something to the effect that '... you can't walk into a bank and abuse people like that..." !!! Well if Vickery had walked into a bank and 'abused' Cox as he did he could have been facing a serious criminal charge.