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Jake Carlisle’s two-match ban for striking Jack Riewoldt stands after tribunal appeal fails
JAKE Carlisle has failed in his bid to overturn his two week ban for striking Richmond star Jack Riewoldt. Did the tribunal get it right? Recap all the evidence here.
JAKE Carlisle’s two-match ban for striking stands after the St Kilda defender failed to have his suspension watered-down at the AFL tribunal.
After more than an hour of submissions, tribunal members Wayne Henwood, Richard Loveridge and Shane Wakelin took eight minutes to decide Carlisle’s hit on Jack Riewoldt would remain at careless conduct with high impact to the head. FINALS RUN: HOW EASY IS YOUR CLUB’S DRAW? INJURY LIST: WHO IS HURT AND FIRING AT YOUR CLUB? PAY ATTENTION: 10 THINGS YOU MISSED IN ROUND 10 Carlisle will miss the Saints’ next two games against West Coast and Sydney and said the club wouldn’t appeal. “I’m obviously disappointed with the outcome,” Carlisle said. “I spoke to Jack (Riewoldt) after the game and resolved everything. I’m just disappointed I won’t be able to play the next couple of games with the guys.” Carlisle’s advocate, Dermot Dann QC, argued the strike should be downgraded to medium impact. A medical report submitted by Richmond doctor Greg Hickey stated Riewoldt wouldn’t miss any training sessions and wasn’t expected to miss any matches as a result of the incident. But the evidence of umpire Rob O’Gorman and arguments made by AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson saw the ban stand. Controlling umpire O’Gorman, who immediately reported Carlisle for striking, said he stood by that decision. “The most striking thing was the sound I heard,” O’Gorman said. “It was quite loud; the arm hitting the head, or the wrist hitting the head, and that sound … indicated to me the contact was very high, very forceful and warranted the report.” AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson made a 12-point argument that Carlisle’s contact with Riewoldt constituted high impact. Perfect 9 promo 650x90 “He hit him flush. It wasn’t a glancing blow,” Gleeson said. “Riewoldt is unconscious before he hits the ground. He collapses like a rag doll. “To say this is only medium (force) when the player is concussed before hitting the ground and could not play on, raises some questions as to what is required for high. “He takes off at a fair sprint to make the contest and … when you’re sprinting, the power you can impact upon a contest is greater.” Dann referenced several hits in recent years — Jack Ziebell on Jack Newnes and Nick Holman among them — that were judged to be medium contact “to try and promote consistency in outcomes,” he said. “The fact Riewoldt couldn’t finish the game doesn’t necessarily mean the force was high,” Dann said. “We’re dealing with an open hand throughout this contest. This is not an intentional head-high strike. Carlisle enters the contest with an open hand. “We’re not dealing with … high-end force, we’re dealing with limited force.” But the tribunal disagreed, ruling the Match Review Officer’s two-match ban would remain. LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on FOX SPORTS. Get your free 2-week trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as Jake Carlisle’s two-match ban for striking Jack Riewoldt stands after tribunal appeal fails