Geelong captain Joel Selwood heads a group of key players from teams in AFL finals contention anxiously awaiting Monday’s findings by the match review panel.
Selwood’s “chicken-wing” tackle on North Melbourne’s Sam Wright drew criticism from several prominent observers, including his predecessor as Cats skipper, Cameron Ling, who predicted a suspension of one or two weeks.
“I do not like seeing that at all,” Ling told Channel Seven.
“The risk of injury there is super high on Sam Wright.”
Recently-retired Carlton great Chris Judd received a four-match ban for a chicken-wing tackle on North Melbourne’s Leigh Adams back in 2012, although that incident was more serious as Judd was not involved in the initial tackle.
In-form Collingwood onballer Taylor Adams can expect to be sanctioned for repeatedly kneeing Port Adelaide’s Justin Westhoff in the head during Thursday night’s clash at Adelaide Oval.
Adams drew the ire of Port’s recently retired games-record holder Kane Cornes.
“Have yourself a holiday Taylor. Disgraceful,” tweeted Cornes.
Richmond ruck-forward Ty Vickery also looks to be in trouble after his off-the-ball bump on Michael Jamison resulted in a head clash which concussed the Carlton fullback.
Vickery has an existing bad record having been suspended twice last season, meaning he will incur an extra week’s ban if found guilty of rough conduct against Jamison.
Red-hot Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe will also have his high spoil on Hawk Taylor Duryea scrutinised by the MRP, although he’s likely to face no bigger sanction than a fine, at worst.
Fyfe’s forearm made contact with Duryea’s face, but the Hawthorn utility was unhurt.
St Kilda’s 35-point loss to GWS on Sunday all but snuffed out their slim finals chances and they could well be without ruckman Billy Longer for next weekend’s clash with Richmond.
Longer was booked for a late hit on Lachie Whitfield.
Melbourne utility Jeremy Howe could also be cited for a sling tackle which concussed Essendon’s Alex Browne.
The luckless Browne was playing his first senior game in more than two years.
Don Freo
Guest
Of course he had eyes for the ball. It was in the contest until Duryea marked it. Fyfe is always hunting the ball. That's why he is so good.
Don Freo
Guest
Marez, he could go and play the ball...it was 6 metres away. It was sly and he lined up and picked Fyfe out. Even the MRP called it intentional. It is just that Hawthorn is allowed to do those things intentionally without penalty.
Don Freo
Guest
Gibson on De Boer would have got 3 weeks if De Boer wasn't so tough ...and Gibson wasn't wearing Hawks colours.
Don Freo
Guest
Mitchell was the worst of the weekend. Seek out the opposition's best player and wipe him out with a corkie. Buddy or Hannebery will be his targets this week. Apparently, Hawthorn's leaders, Mitchell, Hodge and Lewis, have been cleared by the AFL Rules committee to do this.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
God bless 'em. It's a close run thing. They are a right pair. I had thought they would drop Waitey after last week's debacle but there you go.
jax
Guest
It didn't matter as much last year but it would this year due to all the talk about Fyfe been a dead set certainly. The tribunal is allso more lenient if a player is before them just before a GF. I don't think Brownlow or GF's should have anything to do with it. Take each case on its merits which is what you are saying I think.
jax
Guest
You can't be sure that he would have won it last year. He may have polled in those games and he may not. It would be a shame to see him miss twice. I'm not in favour of making players ineligible due to suspension. If they miss games they can't poll votes and that is penalty enough for mine.
johno
Guest
All good people Just a fine for Fyfe. Let the cries of injustice begin
johno
Guest
Just wondering why no one is bringing it up. High contact, intentional and medium impact. 2 weeks. And yet it won't even be reviewed
Mason
Guest
What does Gibson's hit have anything to do with Fyfe? I agree Lewis probably deserved it but it doesn't take away the fact that he still hit him and high and Lewis went off the ground. If it depended on the player Balintyne would never last the first quarter.
johno
Guest
He should get a medal for hitting Lewis
johno
Guest
And Gibsons hit on the Freo player? Bump to the head when he should have tackled?
Mason
Guest
What about Fyfe's hit on Lewis in the first quarter was a worse hit than the attempted spoil and was head high.
johno
Guest
The big risk for Fyfe if he is fined again is that if it happens once more then he gets an automatic 1 game suspension. Would be tragic to see him rules out from winning the Brownlow 2 years running. Last year he would have won if not for the 2 suspensions, the first was ridiculous given the suspensions for the remainder of the year and the second would have gotten him a $1500 fine in this seasons rulings IMO
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
He was one of the favourites last year and got rubbed out twice.
Jerry
Guest
Duryea stayed down for a little bit and also grabs his head, there is also the Lewis his in the first quarter that Fyfe could be gone for.
johno
Guest
"I know he wasn't hurt" And there's the thing - low impact. If it is graded as careless (and you'd be hard pressed to consider it intentional since Tippetts was graded as careless) then all a low impact and careless hit that is high can get you is a $1500 fine. The only thing between Fyfe and a suspension is the force of impact. Grimes was clearly hurt by Tippett, Duryea wasn't. If Fyfe is suspended expect Freo to challenge this on the level of impact with doctors reports showing Duryea was fine and the video supporting this.
johno
Guest
Tippett was looking at Grimes when he struck him on the head with his elbow. Tippett was careless contact, medium impact to the head Fyfe should be rated as careless, low impact and high which equals a $1500 fine. Thats the MRP rules. To get suspended it needs to be graded as medium impact - no evidence of this - or interntional. Good argument to say it was a spoil that went wrong. Unlike when Lewis round housed Goldstein earlier in the year. And that is the big difference. The force of contact. Grimes goes down and is holding his head after the contact was made. Duryea gets up straight away and takes the 50m penalty and shot on goal. Umpre was right there, no report just a 50. Seems like they didn't rate the impact.
jax
Guest
I don't want to see Fyfe rubbed out either but he hit the guy in the head with his forearm/elbow. He never had eyes for the ball and he closed his eyes before impact. I know he wasn't hurt but his nose could easily been broken or he could have been knocked out. Letting him off sends the wrong message. We keep getting told that the head is sacred. This is line ball for mine. If he gets off I won't complain but the MRP needs to be consistent. Talking about consistency, if Mitchell gets suspended this time I need to ask why he wasn't suspended the first time? The offence was almost identical. That's the inconsistency I'm referring to.
johno
Guest
Where's the discussion around the Gibson bump that collected the Freo player (can't remember his name) in the head? Gibson chose to bump, initiated high contact. Fyfe got 2 weeks for that last year. And yet - absolutely nothing mentioned about this.