Magarey Medallist cops five-game ban for dangerous tackle as SANFL sends strong message to the rest of the competition

The SANFL has sent a strong message to the Magarey Medallist and the rest of the league after a player hurt in a dangerous tackle was ruled out of this weekend’s game.

Central District Magarey Medallist Harry Grant has been slapped with a whopping five-game ban for a dangerous tackle that hurt a SANFL opponent’s neck and ruled him out of football this weekend.

In sending a strong message to the rest of the competition, the SANFL banned the star Bulldogs midfielder until August by handing him a five-match penalty at a tribunal hearing on Wednesday night for engaging in rough conduct against Woodville-West Torrens’ Kade Herbert during the Eagles’ 38-point win at Woodville Oval last Saturday.

The second quarter incident saw the 19-year-old Herbert tackled and drilled into the turf by Grant following a ruck contest.

Herbert got up holding the back of his neck and experienced tingling in his right arm before leaving the field and being ruled out of the game.

Central District’s Harry Grant after winning the 2023 Magarey Medal. Picture: Dean Martin

The incident was referred directly to the SANFL Tribunal, which handed out the biggest SANFL league penalty since former Glenelg midfielder Brady Searle, who now plays for West Adelaide, copped a six-match ban for a front-on bump against Norwood’s Jack Saunders two years ago.

Grant, who won the 2023 Magarey Medal, pleaded guilty to the tribunal panel, which included Ian White (Chair), Angus Kurtze and Garry Palasis.

In setting the penalty, White determined that the tribunal had to be concerned with more than penalising Grant and that an appropriate example needed to be set for all players in the league and in community leagues around the state.

The incident was graded as rough conduct (dangerous tackle), careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

Woodville-West Torrens’ Kade Herbert. Picture: Cory Sutton

Herbert was cleared of any neck fractures following the incident but has experienced some discomfort during the week and been ruled out of the Eagles’ clash against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

“Kade was cleared of any fractures when he got tipped on his neck in a tackle and our club did an outstanding job of getting him straight in (to hospital) and making sure he was okay,’’ Eagles coach Sam Jacobs said.

Eagles chief executive David Couzner drove Herbert straight to Calvary Hospital for scans, which cleared him of any bone damage.

Further MRI testing during the week revealed minor neck ligament damage.

Central District’s Harry Grant in action against West Adelaide. Picture: David Mariuz/SANFL

The club hopes Herbert will be fit to play after its bye next week.

After playing Port, the Eagles next game is against unbeaten Sturt at Unley Oval on June 28.

The suspension means Grant, who has enjoyed a strong start to the season and polled eight votes in The Advertiser SANFL Player of the Year award - five behind leaders, Sturt’s Will Snelling and the Eagles’ Kobe Mutch - is ineligible to win this year’s Magarey Medal.

It also is another significant blow to the fourth-placed Bulldogs, who lost another standout midfielder, Mani Liddy, to Port in the AFL mid-season draft.