AFL News: Sicily learns fate for dangerous tackle amid 'embarrassment to our game' debate over Giant's ban

James Sicily’s three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle on Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage has been upheld at the AFL appeals board.

The ban for the tackle laid during the Hawks’ Round 13 win over the Lions was originally handed out last Tuesday at the Tribunal, before the Hawks opted to further challenge the sanction.

However, despite citing biomechanical evidence that the presence of teammate Tyler Brockman during the tackle impacted McCluggage’s eventual concussion more than Sicily’s action, the appeal was rejected.

Sicily was suspended after the match review officer graded the incident as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

At the appeal board hearing on Monday night, Hawks legal representative Will Houghton argued there were “several errors of law” and a lack of procedural fairness in the tribunal’s findings.

Houghton argued the tribunal did not ask itself whether Sicily’s conduct was negligent or reckless, or whether it was unreasonable in the circumstances.

Houghton also claimed evidence provided by the biomechanist the Hawks called on at the tribunal hearing was ignored.

“It was unreasonable for these matters to be overlooked,” Houghton said.

AFL legal representative Lisa Hannon argued the tribunal took into account all of those factors when making its decision.

And while the tribunal panel didn’t fully explain the reasons for its decision, Hannon said there was “no relevant material error of law” in the process.

“The tribunal, comprised of experienced players, was well positioned to form its own view as to whether Sicily could’ve done anything differently,” Hannon said.

The appeal board found no error of law in the tribunal’s process and dismissed the appeal, concluding a hearing that lasted more than three hours.

“We accept that this is a difficult case and of course we accept, as submitted by counsel for the AFL, that reasonable minds may differ in such circumstances,” appeal board chair Murray Kellam said.

“However, having regards to the evidence available and in particular the video evidence … we’re unable to come to the conclusion that the tribunal came to a decision that was so unreasonable that no tribunal could have come to such a decision.”

Sicily will miss the Hawks’ upcoming clashes with Gold Coast, Carlton and GWS.

(AAP)

Luckless Pie cops injury setback

Collingwood forward Daniel McStay will remained sidelined after suffering an infection in the finger he had operated on in April.

McStay has been out of action since round five, having ruptured a flexor tendon in the finger.

The off-season recruit then suffered a setback at training earlier this month, preventing him from making a comeback in the King’s Birthday clash with Melbourne.

In a statement on Monday, the Magpies declared McStay “will be out for the short term” because of the infection.

McStay joined Collingwood from Brisbane as an unrestricted free agent last October.

The 27-year-old has managed just five games for his new club, kicking three goals.

The Magpies (11-2) can reclaim top spot on the ladder with a win over Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.

Whitfield facing ’embarrassing’ ban

GWS line-breaker Lachie Whitfield has become the latest AFL player charged with rough conduct under the league’s crackdown on dangerous tackles but he has received support from an unlikely cross-town ally.

Whitfield is facing a one-match ban for his dumping tackle on Fremantle’s Jordan Clark, which took some shine off the Giants’ 70-point victory on Saturday.

Whitfield pinned Clark’s right arm as he slung his opponent to the ground. Clark’s head hit the turf in the incident, which the match review officer graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

Swans legend Tadgh Kennelly was gobsmacked by the tackle being considered dangerous.

“I played football at the top grade for 13 years and now I don’t know how to tackle someone. I don’t know how to educate my kids or my young kids’ team on how to tackle now,” he said on ABC Grandstand.

Former Hawks premiership winner Dermott Brereton on Fox Footy also went into bat for Whitfield.

“He didn’t dump his head into the ground, he dumps the body to the ground and then his head rocks forward,” he said before adding the tackled player needs to also ensure that they don’t get injured when they’re being taken to the ground by protecting their heads from contact.

If he accepts the ban, Whitfield will miss the Giants’ clash with Melbourne after the bye.

St Kilda defender Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has escaped suspension for striking Richmond’s Daniel Rioli.

Wanganeen-Milera caught Rioli with an elbow to his jaw, costing the Saints a down-field free-kick in their 20-point defeat on Saturday night.

The incident was graded as careless conduct, low impact and high contact.

Demons hopeful Oliver, Petty can return to face Cats

Star midfielder Clayton Oliver is no certainty to return for Melbourne’s mammoth clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium after spending almost a week in hospital.

A nasty infected blister on his foot meant Oliver missed the Demons’ impressive King’s Birthday win over Collingwood.

The four-time Demons best-and-fairest winner had already sat out the previous two matches against Fremantle and Carlton due to a hamstring injury.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said he was hopeful Oliver and versatile tall Harrison Petty would be available to return for Thursday night’s blockbuster in Geelong.

“We need to make sure they train well (on Monday) and also again on on Wednesday,” Goodwin said. “We’re hopeful, but we’re certainly not declaring them at this point.

“Obviously spending five days in hospital isn’t ideal so making sure that he’s (Oliver) got the load required, is training to the level and he’s ready to go.”

(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Petty has been out since injuring his foot in the Demons’ round-nine win against Hawthorn. “It is about performance and making sure that they’re ready to perform so we won’t take any risks with any players,” Goodwin said.

Melbourne were comfortably beaten in Geelong last year as the Cats continued their charge towards claiming the 2022 premiership. The Demons pulled off a famous win at Kardinia Park in 2021 to seal the minor premiership in the final round of the season, albeit without any of the Cats supporters due to COVID-19 restrictions.

To adjust to the unique dimensions of the ground, Melbourne will spend the night in Geelong on Wednesday and have a training session at GMHBA Stadium.

“We’re moving our program down there (to Geelong) on Wednesday and treat it like a game away from home, spend the night in a hotel and train down there and prepare ourselves as best we can,” Goodwin said.

“We’ve played down there a lot in the last four or five years; we’ve had some success, but we’ve also had some pretty average performances

“We want to get used to the environment, want to set it up and prepare as best we can and this is one of those ways that we can do it.

“Just like every other way game, whether it’s Adelaide Oval or Optus Stadium, you always get to train at that ground.”

Naughton to stay forward despite Dogs injuries

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has ruled out using leading goal-kicker Aaron Naughton to reinforce an injury-hit defence after his side’s AFL bye.

Naughton was shifted back for the second half of Sunday’s 21-point win – 15.15 (105) to 13.6 (84) – over North Melbourne, with Liam Jones (fractured arm) and Tim O’Brien (hamstring) out of the game.

But Beveridge will keep Naughton as the spearhead in attack when the Dogs host Fremantle in round 16, instead calling on his reserves to step up in defence.

“If we didn’t have anyone else on our list who could possibly play there then, yeah, you’d have to consider it, absolutely,” Beveridge said.

“But even yesterday James O’Donnell, Josh Bruce and Ryan Gardner were all pretty solid in Footscray’s (VFL) win over Williamstown.

(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“There are some boys there that can come in and play those important roles.

“As much as they weren’t necessarily at their best the week before, they’re still there, and Aaron’s really important for us forward.”

Earlier this month, Beveridge bristled at a suggestion from Fox Footy analyst David King that Naughton should be switched permanently to defence to boost the Bulldogs’ premiership credentials.

The 195cm target, who was drafted as a key defender, has kicked 26 goals in 14 games this season after leading the Dogs’ goal-kicking last year.

Wingman Bailey Williams was also used to plug a hole at the back against North Melbourne after Jones and O’Brien sustained injuries during the first half.

Jones was hurt in the opening stages when he received an accidental kick from the Kangaroos’ Paul Curtis while trying to gather a loose ball.

He was taken to hospital, where scans confirmed a fractured radius in his left forearm.

“He’ll have it plated … and I don’t know how long he’s out, but he’ll be out for a while,” Beveridge said.

Jones and O’Brien join fellow backmen Jason Johannisen and Ed Richards (both hamstring) on the injury list, while versatile young tall Sam Darcy (jaw) is also out of action.

The Bulldogs’ win snapped a three-match losing skid and improved their record to 8-6, ensuring they will remain inside the top eight through the last of the bye rounds.

Beveridge conceded his side is “just a margin off” the best teams in the competition but has high hopes for the business end of the season.

“You can bridge those gaps,” Beveridge said.

“You do need a little bit of good fortune with your personnel and your injury toll, but we’ve got to do things a bit better than what we have consistently to threaten.

“At least we’ve given ourselves a look.

“We’re sort of in there in that lower part of the eight and it’s our objective in our last nine games to see if we can nip at the heels of the more established sides at the top end and see what we can do.”

with AAP