Sam Darcy not expected to be suspended for hit on Jordon Butts

Jordon Butts was off to hospital not long after an emphatic fend-off to the chest from Sam Darcy, but the Bulldogs’ unicorn is free to play against Brisbane.

Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy is available to take on Brisbane in next week’s blockbuster clash despite the perplexing nature of his contact with injured Adelaide defender Jordan Butts.

Butts was hospitalised with a collapsed lung not long after his clash with Darcy, which saw the Dogs tall hitting out at his opponent with a fend-off to the upper chest.

By quarter time Butts was out of the game as he complained of breathing difficulties and remained in Melbourne overnight given his medical issues.

The Crows are still working through those details and assessing exactly how Butts was injured.

Darcy is not expected to be suspended for this incident.

But an injury is only relevant to an MRO case if a player is deemed to be guilty of a reportable act.

So Darcy was only responsible for the contact if MRO boss Michael Christian believed there was a case to answer.

The fend-off was relatively innocuous, with similar fend-offs occurring dozens of times across an AFL game.

It was also to the collarbone or upper chest rather than anywhere that would normally cause a lung injury.

It is not known if there was a separate incident or a pre-existing condition for Butts.

So while Christian had to work through the unusual incident with the AFL’s legal bosses, he declined to cite or even fine Darcy.

The MRO has also shown in recent months that it is prepared to clear players for incidents in which their opponent has been concussed given the lack of a reportable incident.

Ben King’s collision with Lachie Whitfield, Luke McDonald’s clash with Jarrod Berry and Lloyd Meek’s spoil on Pat Lipinski all saw players cleared despite concussions.

The AFL also declined to cite Marcus Bontempelli for his tackle that injured James Peatling’s shoulder.

He attempted to pin one arm to secure a holding-the-ball free kick, which wrenched Peatling’s shoulder backwards.

But to be cited for a chicken wing tackle a player needs to be involved in a double action after the initial tackle.

Brisbane will have to decide whether it appeals Zac Bailey’s one-week ban for a bump on Carlton’s Nick Haynes.

Bailey bumped Haynes shoulder to shoulder but the head clash resulted in bruising to Haynes’ cheek.

The Lions might attempt to argue it was low impact rather than medium impact, which would result in only a fine rather than a week’s suspension.

Carlton’s Adam Cerra will face the tribunal on Tuesday after a fourth umpire contact fine but can expect only an elevated fine rather than a suspension.

He backed into an umpire without being aware of his surroundings, with a normal third or subsequent fine for that offence $5000 ($3250 with a guilty plea).

So he might expect the AFL to ask for a fine that is double that amount or more, with the tribunal then deciding upon a suitable penalty.

Originally published as Sam Darcy not expected to be suspended for hit on Jordon Butts