Demons forward learns fate over ‘worst incident seen on a football field’

A Melbourne player has learnt his fate over an act one commentator dubbed as one of the worst incidents seen this year.

Melbourne’s Aidan Johnson has been hit with a two-match suspension by the AFL’s Match Review Officer.

The Dees forward landed himself in hot water on Sunday afternoon when he elected to bump St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

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In the second quarter, the first-year Demon collected Wanganeen-Milera in a collision that left the Saints rebounder in need of medical attention.

Despite the high hit, the Saints star returned to finish out the contest but it mattered little to the MRO.

The hit was graded as careless conduct, high impact and high contact, resulting in the two-game suspension.

Aidan Johnson cops two-match ban

Channel 7’s Kate McCarthy hit out at Johnson, who is now facing his second suspension of the season.

“Having a look at it here, this is the exact act that needs to be stamped out of the game,” McCarthy said.

“We’ve seen a lot of contentious 50/50s when a player has been concussed, Paul Curtis is the one that comes to mind that gets three weeks for an act.

“That for me is one of the worst incidents on a football field this year. Yes Wanganeen-Milera hasn’t been concussed, but he’s elected to leave the ground to bump a player that is in a very vulnerable position.

“I think they need to stamp that out from the game and come down hard.”

Aidan Johnson was handed a two-week ban by the AFL MRO. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Kate McCarthy was not happy with Aidan Johnson's bump. Credit: Channel 7.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon however felt different when speaking after the contest, saying he had concerns for the path in which the game is heading down.

“I like the physicality in the game,” Lyon said.

“I’m concerned where the game is heading. I understand the head is sacrosanct and all that, but there was one where Hunter Clark went down to the ball and won it.

“I’m glad Alex Pearce got off. I’ll leave it to (the MRO). You just hope every team gets a fair shake. Like, when you need to be fair, hopefully it’s fair.

“I’ve got no comment. I think the game is good order. Sometimes incidents happen. Enough controversy finds me, right?”

Johnson could now miss games against Collingwood in Round 13 and Port Adelaide in Round 15 if he’s unable to have the suspension overturned at the AFL Tribunal.

Originally published as Demons forward learns fate over ‘worst incident seen on a football field’