AFL News: League comes down hard on fan over Pickett incident, shock Pies flag take after Daicos injury

The fan who shoved Marlion Pickett in a much-publicised incident during Richmond’s loss to the Western Bulldogs will be banned from attending games until the end of 2024.

During the third quarter at Marvel Stadium, a fan reached over the fence to pat Pickett on the back, with the Tiger responding by swiping at the man’s beer.

A security guard was quick to intervene, with Pickett and teammate Daniel Rioli returning to the forward pocket at three quarter time to reiterate their displeasure.

In a statement, AFL executive Kylie Rogers confirmed the fan wasn’t a member of either the Tigers or Bulldogs, and said the incident ‘is not acceptable and never will be’.

“We have the best fans in the world and more than 6.4 million people have attended the footy this year and we want everyone who comes to the footy to cheer for their team and enjoy the experience of being there, but when you overstep the boundaries, which is what happened on Friday night, then you will lose the privilege of being able to attend the footy,” Rogers said.

“Our clear message is this – we love the interactions between players and fans especially in the precious moments pre- and post-game – however what we saw on Friday night during the match is not acceptable and never will be.”

Marlion Pickett. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

‘Can’t see them winning’ – Great’s shock Pies doomsday theory

Collingwood might sit two games and percentage clear atop the AFL ladder, but former North Melbourne premiership player David King has made a shock call on their premiership chances following Nick Daicos’ knee injury.

Daicos will miss up to six weeks with a hairline knee fracture, ending his home-and-away season and leaving him in grave doubt for the start of the Magpies’ finals campaign: for King, the Brownlow Medal favourite is so crucial to the team’s performance that his absence will cripple them.

“This guy [Daicos], in all likelihood, has probably lost the Brownlow as late as Round 21 – and they [Collingwood] have lost their number one trump card,” King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack.

“This guy is so important to everything Collingwood do. They’ve won games even though they’ve been a little clunky with system on the back of talent. He’s their number one disposal player, he’s their number one score involvement player – he’s bankable.

“Yep, he got tagged on the weekend and got shut-out of the game, but it’s become the biggest talking point in footy: can you stop Nick Daicos?”

“Maybe it’s too much of a correction back to where everyone else was three weeks ago, but this is the most savage of blows.”

With games against Geelong and Brisbane in the next fortnight, the Pies could fall behind the Lions (third) or Melbourne (second) with even two losses from their final three games, with back-to-back defeats at the hands of Carlton and Hawthorn throwing open a minor premiership race that seemed locked up when Collingwood pipped Port Adelaide in Round 19.

For King, the Pies’ only chance of salvaging their season is to keep hold of top spot.

“Logic says to me they’ll fight hard to finish top,” he said.

“If they can somehow find that and things open up for them and they don’t have to leave the MCG that’d be great. I really can’t see them winning it from here now.”

The Pies’ woes were compounded by an ankle injury to Nathan Murphy that will sideline the defender for 2-3 weeks, with a swathe of Magpies withdrawn from their Sunday VFL team ahead of Friday night’s clash with the Cats.

Nick Daicos speaks with Jeremy Howe. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Giant blow: Small forward pair cop suspensions ahead of must-win Power date

The finals hopes of GWS have suffered a double blow after small forwards Toby Bedford and Brent Daniels received one-match bans from the AFL’s match review officer.

Daniels’ high bump on Sydney’s Jake Lloyd was assessed as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, drawing a one-match ban.

Bedford’s dump tackle on Sydney’s Oliver Florent, in which he pinned his opponent’s arms before bringing him to ground, was graded in similar fashion.

Unless GWS successfully appeal the bans, it means Bedford and Daniels will miss Sunday’s encounter with top-four fancies Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

The Giants are in eighth spot, but they have four other teams below them that are within a win.

Sydney’s Braeden Campbell has also received a one-match ban for his high bump on Lachie Whitfield after the GWS star had disposed of the ball.

West Coast ruckman Bailey Williams will miss Saturday’s western derby against Fremantle after copping a one-match ban for his high bump on Essendon’s Mason Redman. 

Collingwood’s Beau McCreery escaped with a fine for striking Hawthorn’s James Sicily, while Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones was fined for tripping. 

(AAP)