AFL News: Radical wildcard weekend plan 'fraught with danger', tribunal hands down Rampe verdict, Boyd cops ban

Essendon coach Brad Scott has slammed the idea of a wildcard round, saying a change to the finals structure would be “fraught with danger”.

Incoming AFL boss Andrew Dillon will raise the idea of an NBA-style format after the home-and-away season when he meets with the league’s chief executives on Tuesday.

Scott, who was the AFL’s general manager of football prior to taking on the Bombers coaching job late last year, believes it would be an “unjust” way for the league to go.

“Maybe I’m a bit overly cautious of these things, but you fight tooth and nail for 23 games of the year to get to a position,” he said on Tuesday.

“I think the seventh-placed team playing the 10th-placed team or whatever format that would be, there’s potential for some almost unjust outcomes based on a 23-game season and then it comes down to one game when a team has qualified well in front of another.

“In a fixture that is clearly inequitable, in almost every way, in a system where broadcast and attendance is prioritised over fairness and equity, to put something else which is potentially inequitable into the system is fraught with danger, in my opinion.”

The NBA introduced a play-in tournament in 2020, pitting teams ranked seventh to 10th in each conference against each other for the last two spots in the top-eight for the playoffs.

It comes as just one-and-a-half games separates fifth-placed Geelong and Gold Coast in 13th as teams outside the top four scrap for the remaining four positions in finals.

GWS coach Adam Kingsley said on Monday night he was “interested” in the wildcard round idea but North Melbourne caretaker coach Brett Ratten was firmly against it.

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley insisted the idea had some merit.

“With the ladder looking as squeezed as it is, it sort of warrants that you’ve got to win that last one on a wildcard weekend,” he told Fox Footy.

Boyd banned by tribunal for rough conduct

Carlton defender Jordan Boyd has copped a three-week ban for his dangerous tackle on Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones after failing to convince the AFL tribunal the impact of his hit was not ‘severe’.

Boyd pleaded guilty to rough conduct but challenged the impact grading, arguing a head clash between teammate Adam Cerra and Byrne-Jones immediately prior to the tackle contributed to his concussion.

Carlton called a doctor who said it was impossible to determine which impact had caused Byrne-Jones’ concussion, the club arguing Boyd shouldn’t be excessively punished for a tackle that might not have caused any actual injury.

But tribunal chairwoman Renee Enbom and her jury were satisfied on the balance of probabilities the tackle did affect the concussion, noting “far less impact” on the Cerra clash compared with his head hitting the ground after the tackle.

They found the impact was severe due to Byrne-Jones’ unbroken fall combined with excessive force in the slinging motion.

Boyd will miss Carlton’s games against West Coast, Collingwood and St Kilda.

Rampe strikes it lucky over McNeil collision

Sydney co-captain Dane Rampe is free to face Fremantle on Saturday night after the AFL tribunal threw out his two-match ban for a collision that left Western Bulldog Lachie McNeil concussed.

Rampe argued the contact was nothing more than a “football incident”, declaring he hadn’t deviated from his running line and that McNeil had initiated the contact.

The tribunal agreed and dismissed his two-game rough conduct ban, a huge boost for the Swans as they look to put together a late season charge and play finals, currently 14th on the ladder.

Rampe argued he was on “high alert” after seeing a ball-carrier look to target a pass to McNeil, trying to close down the space to his opponent’s outside shoulder before he turned into him.

Rampe’s lawyer said the match review officer had “mischaracterised” the incident, as it was McNeil who changed direction, not the Sydney star.

They added merely bracing for contact was not rough conduct.

McNeil played out the match, but was later confirmed by his club to be experiencing delayed concussion.

Knee surgery puts McKay out of Blues’ finals push

Carlton will continue their late-season push for an AFL finals berth without Harry McKay after sending the key forward for arthroscopic surgery on his injured right knee.

It will mean McKay is sidelined for six to eight weeks, ruling him out of action for the rest of the home-and-away season.

The 2021 Coleman medallist’s only chance of playing again this year is if the Blues gatecrash the top eight.

That prospect seems far more likely than it did a month ago, with Michael Voss’s side back in form and hot favourites to rack up a fifth consecutive win when they host lowly West Coast this week.

“While it is disappointing for Harry that he will be sidelined, we know he will be the ultimate professional and continue to have a positive influence around the club during this period of the season,” Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd said in a statement.

“One of the main things the playing group prides itself on is stepping up and everyone playing their role when needed.

“That opportunity will present again in Harry’s absence.

“We’ll continue to lean on our even contribution across the board as we lock in for this Saturday’s game against West Coast.”

The fact that McKay avoided an anterior cruciate ligament injury means that even if he doesn’t play again this year, he will be fit to attack the 2024 pre-season.

Carlton could be forced to make three changes to their team to face West Coast, with McKay ruled out and midfielder Adam Cerra in doubt because of hamstring tightness.

Jordan Boyd is facing suspension over a dangerous tackle on Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones.

The small defender was referred directly to the tribunal and will appear on Tuesday night.

Skilful playmaker Zac Fisher (hamstring) is a chance to return from injury against the Eagles.

Dew drops in for Ashes

Stuart Dew has linked up with good mate Travis Head at an Australia training session ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, a week after he was sacked as Gold Coast’s AFL coach.

Dew has not spoken publicly since his abrupt axing last Tuesday, after five-and-a-half seasons at the helm for the Suns.

Instead, the former premiership player with Hawthorn and Port Adelaide booked an impromptu holiday to the United Kingdom.

A friend of fellow South Australian Head, Dew was spotted in full Australia kit at training ahead of Wednesday’s Test in Manchester.

He inspected the Old Trafford wicket and was spotted in deep discussion with Port Adelaide ambassador Head, fellow South Australian Alex Carey and Victorian quick Scott Boland.

His appearance in Australia’s Ashes camp follows that of retired Geelong captain Joel Selwood, who shares a connection with the national team’s coach Andrew McDonald.

The Suns board met last Monday night to vote Dew out, despite the coach winning a two-year contract extension last season.

with AAP