Update: Fremantle have confirmed they will challenge Nat Fyfe’s one-match ban at the AFL Tribunal.
Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe is set to be denied the chance to win a second Brownlow Medal in 2018 after the AFL’s Match Review Officer Michael Christian offered him a one-game ban for striking Levi Greenwood in Round 11.
Fyfe and the Fremantle Dockers will have the option of appealing the ban at the AFL Tribunal without risking an extra week thanks to the changes that were made to the tribunal system at the end of last year.
After a dominant start to the year Fyfe has looked the likely leading Brownlow Medal contender in 2018, despite the poor form of his team as a whole.
However if he accepts the one-game ban – or fails to successfully appeal it at the tribunal – then he will be ruled ineligible for the award even if he records the most votes during the season.
If that eventuates, it will through the Brownlow Medal race wide open for just about any of the AFL’s better midfielders to put themselves in the frame with a strong second half of the year.
Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell and the Western Bulldogs’ Jackson Macrae would likely jump to the front of the queue in terms of favouritism, but Patrick Dangerfield and Dustin Martin would both remain strong chances if their form improves after the bye.
Even Rory Laird, Andrew Gaff or Dayne Beams could be an outside chance with a strong finish to the season.
In other MRO decisions for the week, North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin has been given a two-week ban, while a further nine players have been fined.
One of those is Richmond’s Alex Rance, fined $1000 for staging in Saturday night’s Dreamtime at the ‘G match against Essendon.
More to come.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yes, but it is the inconsistency. How does Buddy not even get cited for an elbow in the same situation and it takes a player out of the game? Christian just closed his eyes to that one. What if Mitchell wins Charlie when he gets off for the same thing that rubbed Fyfe out?
Perry Bridge
Guest
Nah - forever and ever what Fyfe did was silly, clumsy, and he's let himself and his team down. He knew it. You can't go jumping into guys like that with elbows and forearms into the head. He jumped after the ball was tapped away - not before or as it happened - ball goes and he wants to make contact with the player and he got it horribly wrong.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Happy re Simpkin - justice is done. It does make me think though - about how many grudging accepted penalties over recent years with the threat of extra weeks stopping clubs from testing the system. The system was NOT working just because people were too scared to challenge. Michael Christian has a tough job - but - I firmly believe he should have charged both Burton and Mitchell and let the clubs challenge if they so wanted - and test the arguments in the context of the tribunal and subject to appeal. I don't get that striking with the elbow as Mitchell did to Goldstein could just be graded misconduct. Misconduct is talking back to someone, or giving the 'bird'.
13th Man
Guest
On McGovern, if rumours are true McGovern getting 1.3 million a season just shows how desperate Freo are to get a Key position gun. Do I think he'll go? No, but if you win a flag perhaps he'll take the dollars after that. Be interesting to see whether he would play as a forward for Freo if he came across?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'll find hundreds of thousands...more likely millions...mounting this very feasible argument today and last night. Stagger away.
IAP
Guest
Hahahahaha...this takes "one-eyed" to a whole new level.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Hardly. His face turns to follow the flight of the ball. He was jumping to intercept the handball over the top but when Greenwood just tapped it over, Fyfe just braced for the collision to turn direction and chase...as he always does. The push off and 180degrees change of direction is a stock in trade for him. He looked away to where the ball was going immediately. A deliberate hit from Fyfe would have Greenwood concussed.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Agreed with all of that and the intent - absolutely the intent was there from Fyfe, you could see it in his face
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Not all about Fyfey. North's Jy Simpkin appealing 2 week ban.
IAP
Guest
I'm staggered that anyone could argue that this isn't deserving of a suspension. Fyfe jumped and smashed him in the head with a forearm. If I was to invoke my patented "all-in brawl in country footy" test, this would definitely start and all-in brawl; therefore, he should get at least a week off.
Perry Bridge
Guest
The thing that gets me about being so 'outcome' focused is that in any era - Fyfe with the forearm/elbow and jumping into Greenwood like he did is a dirty (dare I say it 'dog' act). There's intent there. The Simpkin one is far more of an accident, of a 'just one of those things', and for him to get 2 weeks while Christian found a way to claim that Burton couldn't anticipate a head clash.......come on, that's feeble.
Rick
Guest
You were the one wanting a you tube link now you’re on the back foot. I’ve seen the footage thanks, no need for your techno skills, point is if Cox gets off so does Fyfe, I don’t need you and a few lemmings who probably haven’t been in a similar situation to tell me otherwise but thanks for your thoughts, it’s been amusing.
Paul D
Roar Guru
https://www.theroar.com.au/2018/05/26/clumsy-cox-reported-for-bulldog-bump/ I’m not the one flopping it out trying to make it a measuring contest Here’s a link to the previous topic where pretty much everyone on here came to the same conclusion
Cat
Roar Guru
More straw man BS.
Slane
Guest
Jeeze Mick Malthouse went to seed quickly. Hard to imagine a harder working player than Fyfe.
Jon Boy
Guest
Your wrong again, never admit though ELBOW ? your clutching at straws again usually go into hiding, like when your mob got a hiding recently.
Cat
Roar Guru
Semantics is the best you have now? He wasn’t playing the ball, he went the man and did the wrong thing.
Jon Boy
Guest
Check YOUR, blinkers Cat, You are wrong again if you check it out Christian Quote_''extended forearm'' not ELBOW...........
Rick
Guest
No youtube link but I do have a vid of my last game in a country grand final but I take it you've got a link of yourself...mate
Cat
Roar Guru
So he ‘accidentally’ leapt into the air, then ‘accidentally’ extended his elbow and all of it late and after the ball is gone? Take your blinkers off.