Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield has been sent straight to the AFL Tribunal without the chance to enter an early guilty plea for his high bump on Jake Kelly that left the Adelaide player concussed and with a broken nose.
Dangerfield was charged with rough conduct for an incident assessed by match review officer Michael Christian as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
Unless the Cats are successful in having the charge downgraded, Dangerfield faces at least three weeks on the sidelines.
The 2016 Brownlow Medal winner will also be ruled ineligible for the game’s most prestigious individual honour this year if he is suspended.
Geelong take on fellow flag hopefuls Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night before clashes with arch-rivals Hawthorn and Melbourne over the following fortnight.
The incident occurred in the second quarter of Saturday’s match at the Adelaide Oval which the Crows won by 12 points in a massive upset.
Dangerfield chose to bump Kelly and the pair clashed heads.
“Sometimes players run into each other and there’s a head clash,” Cats coach Chris Scott said after the match.
“I don’t think he intended to headbutt him, that’s for sure.
“To my eye, it looked like he (Dangerfield) was doing everything he could to protect himself and the other player.
“It’s the game we play. Two guys running that speed straight at each other, collisions happen.”
Working against Dangerfield at his hearing are tribunal guidelines that note “players will ordinarily be liable if they elect to bump if not contesting the ball”.
Boom Brisbane recruit Joe Daniher can accept a $2000 fine with an early guilty plea for his strike on Sydney defender Dane Rampe.
Essendon duo Mason Redman and Nik Cox can also accept $2000 fines after being charged with rough conduct and striking respectively.
North Melbourne’s Kayne Turner was reported on Sunday for a dangerous tackle on Port Adelaide forward Xavier Duursma.
Brian
Guest
Just read Dangerfield says he had no choice. I think they need to check if he's still concussed himself
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Who’s making light of it?
Mark
Roar Rookie
Correct Boo, this is not a subject to make light of but unfortunately there are some here that do. I watched that 60 minutes story last night and felt very sad. Tucky was one of my favourites….in fact most Tiger Supporters favourite. Crockers Folly , here on Roar, wrote a beautiful story about when he was a former neighbour of his in Richmond. https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/07/21/shane-tuck-a-front-and-back-page-good-guy/ It shows him to have been the happy, generous and genuine individual we imagined him to be before the effects of this Football induced disease ravaged his brain. His wife, family and young Children now have to live without him. It’s time for the AFL to make an example of Dangerfield as a warning to every Player. He made a premeditated decision to bump Kelly. He didn’t mean to hurt him but he had other, safer choices he could have made in that situation.
Boo
Guest
Before posting the comment 2dogz read a very sad article by Shane Tucks sister about his concussion related tragedy so I felt my beloved allegiance to the Cats and admiration for Danger had to forgotten and a definitive response was required .
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Ohhhhh, shucks. You know I'm Yatootsie as well?
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Pablo will like this comment with his other accounts also :thumbup:
Boo
Guest
For once I agree with you Pablo Cruz don't recall GF hit but the one against Kelly from Adelaide just negligent and stupid .He should get 3 weeks avoidable concussions have to be punished out of the game .
Slane
Guest
I feel like Fyfe got done for a headclash in a bump a couple of years ago. I know there's a fair bit of recency bias in this comment. But does anybody else think Dangerfield is KOing people a little too often for them all to be accidental?
Mr Speaker
Guest
A belief reinforced by the fact that the tribunal has given him a free pass for a LOT in the past.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I can't see any argument here that gets Danger off.... The ball wasn't in dispute. Dangerfield had options, he could of tried to tackle, he could of tried to smother the kick.... He choose to make front on contact and that contact was with the head. No brainer- 2-3 weeks for mine.
Brian
Guest
His feet are off the ground at the point of impact. 3 weeks at least
Paul D
Roar Rookie
That hit on Vlastuin in the grand final was a very well disguised deliberate knockout. He didn't have to punch the ball like that, but he knew if he did and left his arm up he'd get away with it. He needs a few weeks for this one at least. Brutal.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
He’ll get a Lynch fine
Courbet
Roar Rookie
That's 2 big knockouts in his last 2 AFL games. Is there a pattern forming? I always get the feeling with Dangerfield that he believes that he is somehow above the usual set of rules.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
5 months overdue. Getting old and cranky is Paddy.