AFL 2023: Josh Rachele suspended for two matches for striking Giant Jack Buckley
Young Adelaide star Josh Rachele has spoken about a clash with GWS defender Jack Buckley that landed him a two-match suspension as the Crows cling to hope of finals.
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Adelaide young star Josh Rachele will miss the Crows’ season-defining games against Melbourne and Port Adelaide after he copped a two-match ban for striking Giants defender Jack Buckley.
Rachele was reported after he struck Buckley during the second quarter of the Crows’ loss to GWS on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval.
The 20-year-old was expressing frustration with the attention he got from several Giants players and then struck Buckley when he approached him to remonstrate.
On Sunday Rachele conceded he crossed the line regarding physicality in the game.
“It is a hard one with footy, there is a line to be a bit firey and there is a line to kind of pull back a bit and last night I probably lost that a little bit,” he said.
Rachele is now set to miss the Crows clashes against the Demons at the MCG on Sunday and the Power in the Showdown the following week after match review officer Michael Christian graded it intentional, high contact and medium impact.
The Crows will decide on Monday whether they challenge the decision at the tribunal.
After the loss to the Giants, the Crows now sit in 11th and will need to win at least one of those two clashes to be a chance of making finals.
On top of the two-match ban, Rachele was also cited for engaging in a melee/wrestle in the second quarter and for misconduct against Connor Idun in the fourth quarter.
For both he has been fined $1500, but this can be reduced to $1000 with an early plea.
On Sunday Essendon great Matthew Lloyd slammed Rachele’s actions against the Giants.
“There’s all the carry on he’s got when he’s going well but gee, he was undisciplined yesterday. That bit of play, he got hit around the mouth and he went charging and didn’t get the free kick, he went chasing the player, rips him to the ground, free kick against, it was a real momentum changer,” he said on the Sunday Footy Show.
“He got taken off the ground, didn’t get put on the phone. I think at times he thinks he’s going better than he is and I think that’s something Nicksy (Matthew Nicks) should get on top of.”
After he was reported for striking Rachele was spoken to by Crows captain Jordan Dawson on the bench.
“Jordan is a great leader, he has done that with a few boys when we get a bit too firey but he just gave me a bit of feedback and it was good to help me cool down a little bit,” Rachele said.
While it was a disappointing night for the Crows in former captain Rory Sloane’s 250th game, the silver lining was that finals rivals Essendon, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs all lost this weekend.
But the Giants and now Carlton are right in the finals mix and above the Crows.
The loss to the Giants was Adelaide’s second in a row and has the Crows now in 11th place on the ladder.
“We really have to win those last six games now,” Rachele said.
“It was a hard one, we had some tough conversations after the game it was quite damning in the change rooms so we will review it tomorrow and try and move forward.”
Star midfielder Rory Laird copped a heavy knock to his AC joint against the Giants but is expected to be fine to take on the Demons at the MCG.
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