Round 14 in the AFL, the Match Review Panel (MRP) has taken swift action, handing down charges for a few on-field incidents.
Lachie Whitfield’s Unfortunate Tackle Leads to One-Match Ban
GWS Giants’ Lachie Whitfield finds himself in hot water this week, charged with rough conduct due to a tackle on Jordan Clark.
Whitfield, known for his high-intensity style, took a step too far just before the half-time whistle on Saturday. He forcefully drove Clark into the turf, spinning him around in the process. Although Clark seemed a bit rattled initially, he resumed play and saw out the rest of the match without any issues. Whitfield is looking at a one-match ban if he accepts this charge. The tally of players who’ve been penalised for dangerous tackles in 2023 now stands at 21.
James Sicily Set to Contest Three-Match Suspension
Hawthorn’s James Sicily isn’t taking his three-match suspension lying down. Charged with rough conduct after his tackle on Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage, Sicily has decided to appeal the MRP’s decision. Hawthorn are on bye this week, which gives Sicily and his legal team some time to prepare for the AFL Appeal Board hearing scheduled for 5pm (AEST) on Monday, June 19.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera Escapes Suspension with a Fine
St Kilda’s young talent, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, has avoided a suspension after striking Richmond’s Daniel Rioli. The MRP classified the incident as careless conduct, low impact and high contact. As a result, Wanganeen-Milera can avoid further penalties by opting for an early plea and paying a $2,000 fine.
Jarrod Berry Gets All Clear after Will Hayward Tackle
Brisbane’s Jarrod Berry has been cleared by the MRP after a tackle on Sydney’s Will Hayward, which had initially resulted in a matchday report from the umpire. The MRP provided a detailed explanation for their decision. They concluded that Berry had fulfilled his duty of care when he took Hayward to the ground, noting that his actions were not unreasonable under the circumstances. Thus, no further action was deemed necessary.
Sam Wicks Receives Two-Week Suspension for Strike on Ryan Lester
In the final major decision of the week, Sydney’s Sam Wicks has been handed a two-match suspension for his strike on Brisbane’s Ryan Lester. Wicks unintentionally caught Lester in the neck with his elbow after Lester had just kicked the ball during the second quarter. The MRP assessed the incident as careless conduct, high impact, and high contact. This led to a two-week penalty. It’s doubtful that the Swans will contest this decision, considering the clear evidence of the incident.
That’s the roundup of the MRP’s decisions from Round 14. As always, let’s hope for fair play and safe conduct on the field in the upcoming matches.
Suspensions in 2023
| ROUND 13 |
|---|
| 1 Game: Lachie Whitfield |
| 2 Games: Sam Wicks |
| ROUND 13 |
| Cleared: Dan Butler |
| 3 Games: James Sicily – Tribunal, Rhyan Mansell |
| ROUND 12 |
| 1 Game: James Harmes, Liam Duggan |
| 3 Games: Jordan DeGoey |
| ROUND 11 |
| Cleared: Rory Laird, Adam Cerra |
| 1 Game: Luke Parker, James Sicily, Jaeger O’Meara, Dayne Zorko |
| ROUND 10 |
| 1 Game: Tom Jonas, Lachie Hunter |
| ROUND 9 |
| 1 Game: Aiden Corr, Tom Sparrow |
| ROUND 8 |
| Nic Newman – Tribunal – Cleared |
| 1 Game: Brad Close, Tyler Brockman |
| 2 Games: Jacob van Rooyen – Appeal, Junior Rioli |
| ROUND 7 |
| 1 Game: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Sam Durham |
| 2 Games: Matthew Johnson |
| ROUND 6 |
| 1 Game: Callan Ward, Tom Jonas, Jesse Motlop |
| ROUND 5 |
| 1 Game: Zach Merrett – Tribunal |
| Tom Green, Taylor Adams – Tribunal |
| 3 Games: Anthony Caminiti – Tribunal |
| ROUND 4 |
| Harry McKay – Fined, Tom Lynch – Cleared |
| 1 Game: Gary Rohan – Tribunal |
| 2 Games: Will Day – Tribunal |
| ROUND 3 |
| 1 Game: Griffin Logue – Tribunal, Luke Pedlar, Blake Acres – Tribunal |
| ROUND 2 |
| Cleared: Charlie Ballard – Tribunal |
| 1 Game: Jy Simpkin |
| 2 Games: Ryan Burton |
| 4 Games: Nathan Broad – Tribunal |
| ROUND 1 |
| 1 Game: Lance Franklin |
| 2 Games: Kysaiah Pickett |
| 3 Games: Shane McAdam – Tribunal |
