AFL MRO and tribunal news: Jordan Boyd cops one-week suspension

Carlton’s Jordan Boyd is free to play GWS on Saturday night after the Blues successfully appealed his one-week ban for a high hit on Rhyan Mansell. See the details here.

Carlton defender Jordan Boyd has had his one-match ban for his front-on bump on Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell downgraded to a fine after a marathon tribunal hearing that lasted almost four hours.

In an incident that has resulted in much debate, Boyd was handed a one-match ban for what the AFL deemed as forceful front-on contact - graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

The bump occurred in the final quarter of the Blues’ convincing win over the Tigers.

Mansell had gathered the ball and ducked his head as he moved towards Boyd, receiving a free kick after the Carlton defender’s stomach caught him.

Jordan Boyd’s hit on Rhyan Mansell.

Sam Bird for the AFL said Boyd was always going to be second to the ball and even if Mansell had not put his head down, contact would have still been made with his face.

“Given the time Mr Mansell had to react he had few choices available to him,” he said.

“He could either lift his head and expose his face to high contact, or he could do as he has done… what you can see is there is an instinctive reaction to protect his face and minimise the contact.

“Mr Mansell is in a vulnerable position, he is not expecting head high contact.

“He is protecting himself from the impact.”

Peter O’Farrell for Carlton argued that it was Mansell who “initiated contact” and in the action “he keeps lowering his head down for some unknown reason”.

O’Farrell said because the game tolerated such an action, Mansell was trying to win a free-kick and this should no longer be seen as “clever”.

A one week ban for Jordan Boyd for this hit on Mansell. Did Mansell contribute to the hit by ducking into it or was he just covering up as Boyd came in at a rate of knots. Blues might have a think about taking it to the tribunal @FOXFOOTYpic.twitter.com/XNvCoNB6WN

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) July 1, 2024

“He executed a dangerous maneuver and ducked his head,” O’Farrell said.

“One would hope that such actions go out of the game.

“The players are well aware of the risk of head injuries… we hope for the good of the game and the health of future generations of players that actions like this are not adopted by players in the future.

Boyd has had his ban downgraded to a fine. Picture: Getty Images

“His actions put him in a dangerous position to risk being injured.”

Bird said this was close to a suggestion of “victim blaming”, which O’Farrell denied.

After a lengthy deliberation Tribunal chair Renee Enbom KC said while they did not agree with the suggestion that Mansell had ducked, Boyd did enough once he realised high contact was going to be made to reduce the potential for injury.

“Mr Boyd decelerated as soon as he realised that high contact was going to be made,” she said.

“He moved his arms to try and cradle Mr Mansell... this reduced potential for injury.”

It means Boyd can face GWS on Saturday.