All the MRO news from round 16 of the AFL

Melbourne will be sweating on the availability of Steven May after his arm collected Ben Ainsworth in the head. Plus a Swan has been banned after Friday night’s fiery contest.

Sydney forward Aaron Francis has been offered a one-match ban for his hit on Lachie Bramble during the loss to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

And it wasn’t the Swan’s only citing, receiving two fines for engaging in a melee with Rory Lobb across the course of the contest.

Francis and Lobb locked horns throughout the contest, often found as the instigators of the spotfires in one of the games of the season.

The pair of opponents received two $1500 fines each, which would be reduced to $1000 with an early plea.

Rory Lobb and Aaron Francis wrestle

Sydney’s Tom Papley also received a $1500 fine for being the instigator of a melee, which can be reduced to $1000 after he started a fracas with Sam Darcy before the first bounce.

Isaac Heeney’s wallet is also lighter after he received a $3000 fine, reduced to $2000, for striking Ed Richards, but he avoided suspension.

If Francis accepts his penalty, he will miss Sydney’s round 17 clash against Fremantle next week.

Aaron Francis has been offered a one-match ban for striking following this incident involving Lachie Bramble.

Details: https://t.co/xij9OLbr7dpic.twitter.com/4Uvjy7V85c

— AFL (@AFL) June 28, 2025

The MRO will be kept busy over the weekend after several potential fines and suspensions from Saturday’s games.

Demon Steven May is set to come under scrutiny for a swinging arm that collected Gold Coast’s Ben Ainsworth in the head.

Steven May's clumsy spoil

The Suns remonstrated with May before tensions boiled over into a full-blown melee.

Nick Watson also could get looked at for a swinging arm in the opening seconds of the Hawks’ clash with North Melbourne.

Kangaroo star Luke Davies-Uniacke collected the first clean possession of the contest, but a lazy tackling attempt from the small forward resulted in a gut punch that left Davies-Uniacke winded on the ground.

The North Melbourne midfielder was floored for about a minute before play resumed, but had no issues continuing on in the contest.

Originally published as All the MRO news from round 16 of the AFL