Port Adelaide ruckman Dante Visentini to escape ban for bump and all the MRO news

The Blues showed some fight on Thursday night in response to Dante Visentini’s bump that concussed Adam Saad – but the young Power big man is free to play next week

Port Adelaide ruckman Dante Visentini has been cleared of the high bump that concussed Adam Saad and put Carlton’s best running defender out of the clash against Collingwood.

The Blues are dangerously short in stocks and unlikely to get any of their stars back in the near future with Sam Walsh (foot) and Harry McKay (knee) still a month or more away.

Nic Newman had been keen to try to push for a late finals run with his patella tear but with the Blues now out of the finals his return looks futile.

Saad went into the concussion protocols after he was collected by Visentini just before half time as the Blues attempted to withstand a Port Adelaide avalanche.

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Saad went into the concussion protocols after he was collected by Visentini just before half time as the Blues attempted to withstand a Port Adelaide avalanche.

The MRO has cleared several players this year when they have braced for contact within five metres of the ball but not actually moved towards their rival to bump.

The rule of thumb is generally that if a player is in a near-stationary position they are bracing but if they take steps towards an opponent they are choosing to bump.

Visentini was moving towards the ball but when it was handballed over his head he turned and braced for contact with Saad.

Adam Saad returns in Melbourne after another loss. Picture: Ian Currie

While he got Saad high with impact to his head he did not leave the ground to make contact.

So he escaped sanction, just as Melbourne’s Judd McVee did recently after similar contact with Port Adelaide’s Joe Richards.

The MRO ruled on Friday: “Travis Boak has possession of the ball and as Boak handballs the ball in the direction of Visentini, Saad turns to follow the direction of the ball and into the path of Visentini. Visentini braces for contact, making high contact with Saad in the collision that ensues.

“It was the view of the MRO that Visentini’s actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and did not constitute a reportable offence.”

Saad will miss as coach Michael Voss attempts to resuscitate the club’s season against Collingwood on Friday night.

Voss attempted to return Tom De Koning to the ruck by dropping Marc Pittonet but it did not work with De Koning well beaten and Young having only five disposals and a goal.

He will hope that with an eight-day break captain Patrick Cripps (head cold) and leader Jacob Weitering (ankle) are vastly improved after reduced outputs against the Power.

Cripps was undone in a head-to-head contest with Port Adelaide’s out-of-contract tagger Miles Bergman.

Bergman has interest from most Victorian clubs as captain Connor Rozee told Fox Footy post-match he understood his teammate was homesick.

Dante Visentini had a strong game against Carlton’s Tom De Koning. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Power has put a bumper offer of around eight years to Bergman but if he did leave it would spark a bidding war that would see Port Adelaide seeking maximum compensation.

The Power is set to sign Josh Sinn on a two-year deal and Jase Burgoyne on a four-year deal.

But veterans including Travis Boak, Ivan Soldo, Jeremy Finlayson, Ryan Burton and Rory Atkins will have to wait until the end of the year before decisions are made on their future.

Originally published as Port Adelaide ruckman Dante Visentini to escape ban for bump and all the MRO news