AFL pre-season: Zac Williams’ one-match suspension stands after AFL throws out appeal
The AFL has shown its hand with any bump ‘where it’s a roll of the dice’ when it comes to possible concussion after the verdict on Zac Williams.
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Carlton high-profile recruit Zac Williams will miss the blockbuster season opener against Richmond after failing to overturn his one-match ban on Tuesday night.
In the AFL’s first tribunal case of the season, Williams pleaded guilty to careless conduct and high contact, but argued low impact rather than medium for his high bump on St Kilda’s Hunter Clark.
The jury disagreed, upholding the classification as medium impact due to Williams leaving the ground “unnecessarily” as well as making contact with the head and the “potential to cause injury.”
Clark played on despite looking shaky straight after the hit, then was cleared of concussion post-match when he had a test to ascertain the damage.
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Williams tucked in his elbow and then when it was apparent he would not legally bump Clark, he jumped off the ground and hit the St Kilda midfielder.
A high bump to the head, which is assessed as careless and with medium impact, sees a player suspended for a week under the AFL’s table of offences.
Barrister Peter O’Farrell, representing Carlton, argued Clark suffered no concussion or injury.
“Concussion tests are precautionary and should be encouraged,” he said during the hearing.
“It’s wrong to assume that if there’s a concussion test that there is medium impact.”
AFL prosecutor Jeff Gleeson QC countered that “the extent of force is considerable.”
“You’ve all seen enough of that type of bump resulting in a concussion to conclude comfortably that it’s the type of bump where it’s a roll of a dice,” he said.
“You can reasonably infer that the reason for the assessment is because there is concern about a potential concussion.
“The fact there was a concussion test after the match is further evidence of that.”
The league had already shown last year with suspensions for the likes of Ben Long (three weeks) and Dylan Shiel (two weeks) that it wanted to protect players going for the ball.
Williams’ absence against the Tigers will be felt after he made a promising start to his new life as a Blue.
He has already emerged as a goalkicking midfielder in his two pre-season games,, kicking 2.2 to go with his 17 possessions against St Kilda.
He also amassed 446 metres gained in that defeat.
BLUES LODGE APPEAL IN FIGHT TO OVERTURN BAN
Carlton will appeal the one-match ban handed down to $5 million recruit Zac Williams by the MRO.
Williams was on Monday handed a one-match ban for his high bump on St Kilda’s Hunter Clark, nearly four full days after he committed the act on Thursday night.
The Blues tweeted the news on Tuesday morning and will be hoping to clear the gun former GWS star to take on Richmond in a blockbuster Round 1 opener.
The Club can confirm that it will challenge Zac Williams' rough conduct charge. https://t.co/s4MmfKWz17
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) March 9, 2021
For that to happen, the Blues will have to win the AFL’s first tribunal case of the season.
will have to win the AFL’s first tribunal case of the season to be available for the blockbuster season opener against Richmond
The AFL signalled that it was determined to protect the head given it was prepared to elevate the force of the impact to medium.
A high bump to the head which is assessed as careless and with medium impact sees a player suspended for a week under the AFL’s table of offences.
Clark played on despite looking shaky straight after the hit, then was cleared of concussion post-match when he had a test to ascertain the damage.
But the match review panel is open to elevating the force of a hit given the capacity to cause serious injury.
Williams tucked in his elbow and then when it was apparent he would not legally bump Clark he jumped off the ground and hit the St Kilda midfielder.
Williams has already emerged as a goalkicking midfielder in his two pre-season games with the Blues, kicking 2.2 to go with his 17 possessions against St Kilda.
He also amassed 446 metres gained in that defeat, but would need to downgrade the force to low impact at the tribunal to receive only a fine.
The league had already shown last year with suspensions for the likes of Ben Long (three weeks) and Dylan Shiel (two weeks) that it wanted to protect players going for the ball.
Williams was the only player suspended, with Nathan Fyfe’s accidental head clash with West Coast’s Zac Langdon ruled as such.
GWS captain Stephen Coniglio was handed a $2000 fine for rough conduct after a collision with Sydney’s Callum Mills.
And Fremantle’s Darcy Tucker was lucky to escape with a fine for a dangerous tackle on Norm Smith medallist Luke Shuey after the Eagles star played on despite his head hitting the ground in the tackle.
WILLIAMS IN STRIFE AS MRO SANCTION LOOMS
Carlton’s star recruit Zac Williams is in severe doubt for Round 1, with a concussion test given to St Kilda’s Hunter Clark likely to elevate the force of his bump to medium impact.
The AFL will decide upon Williams’ fate after his high bump on Clark on Monday after the full nine-match AAMI Community Series schedule.
But a medium-impact, careless bump would result in Williams missing the Round 1 clash against Richmond.
Williams jumped off the ground to strike Clark, with almost every bump assessed by the match review officer as careless.
ROBBO: GET SERIOUS, AFL, AND SUSPEND WILLIAMS FOR DUMB ACT
The Herald Sun understands Clark, who was shaken after the incident but continued on, later needed assessment to check whether he had delayed concussion.
He passed that SCAT test and will be available for the season opener against the Giants.
The fact Williams caused enough damage for Clark to need a concussion test makes it extremely likely the force will be assessed as medium given the capacity to cause injury.
A range of circumstances are taken into account when considering the force of a strike.
They include the look of the strike and the damage caused, with Williams jumping off the ground to hit Clark high.
Match review officer Michael Christian made clear that he would protect the head last year when he suspended Essendon’s Dylan Shiel for two weeks and St Kilda’s Ben Long for three weeks for a bump labelled “severe” impact.
If he is suspended, Carlton would be likely to head to the tribunal to challenge the ban next week given the borderline nature of the hit and Williams’ importance to its Round 1 side.
Blues coach David Teague said on Thursday night he was hopeful Willams would be available.
“Everyone’s talking about it, so there must be something to worry about,” he said.
“I briefly looked at it on the phone and to be honest the view wasn’t great, so I’m not exactly sure.
“I’ve loved having him at our footy club and really hope he’s available (for Round 1).”
‘A lot of things right’: Saints rookie in line to take veteran’s spot
– Marc McGowan
Out-of-favour St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle could score a round one reprieve after recruit James Frawley suffered a hamstring injury on Thursday night.
Carlisle wasn’t selected in the Saints’ practice game last week or for the AAMI Community Series clash with Carlton despite coach Brett Ratten confirming he was fit and available.
Frawley’s hamstring setback, which occurred during a first-quarter chase, will rule him out of round one contention, swinging the door open for another of St Kilda’s defenders to grab the opportunity.
Dan Hannebery (calf) is also unlikely to play in the season opener as the Saints opt for a “conservative approach”, but No.1 ruckman Paddy Ryder (head knock) isn’t in doubt after skipping the Blues match.
Max King (ankle) also left the field late after kicking three goals.
Mature-age SANFL draftee Tom Highmore replaced Frawley for the final three terms, while Irishman Darragh Joyce, an emergency on Thursday night, is another option.
Ratten was unsure of the severity of Frawley’s injury, but expected the former Hawk and Demon to miss at least two weeks and probably more.
“Jake’s had a full pre-season … (but) we thought Frawley was in front,” Ratten said.
“Highmore is young (enough) to sit on the bench and just wait and maybe play a quarter, and we were going to maybe take (Dougal) Howard or (Callum) Wilkie off towards the end of the game.
“But Frawley did the hamstring early, so Highmore got more of an opportunity, but you don’t want to sit Jake in that space and make him maybe play only a quarter, which is not great for his back and everything, but he’s ready to go.”
Ratten was hesitant to say which player led the race for Frawley’s defensive spot, but said Highmore had “done a lot of things right”.
“We’ll go through that in selection and whether Jake comes in or it’s Highmore for GWS, or we play a bit different,” he said.
“(Jimmy) Webster can play a bit taller and he’s done that, (Nick) Coffield’s shown he can play taller as well, so we’re not going to make any decisions.”
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Carlton had its own injury concerns, with Harry McKay (ankle), Jack Newnes (ankle) and Jacob Weitering (corked hip) all exiting the game, but none is of great concern.
Eddie Betts (calf) will play in a VFL practice match on Friday, while coach David Teague said key forwards Mitch McGovern (hamstring) and Levi Casboult (jarred knee) were nearing full fitness.
“They weren’t too far away – they probably needed a couple of extra days,” Teague said of McGovern and Casboult.
“We’ll get some match sim into them throughout the next week and they’ll both be putting their hand up.
“They’ve had strong pre-seasons up until these last little hiccups, so we expect them to be available for round one.”
The Blues will have to wait until Monday to find out whether star recruit Zac Williams faces any sanction for his high bump on Hunter Clark in the opening seconds of Thursday night’s game.
Match report: Encouraging signs Hill can deliver on promise
Not much went wrong for St Kilda last year, but the picky Saints fans would’ve wanted more from Bradley Hill.
Hill was the most expensive of list boss James Gallagher’s extraordinary High Five of trade recruits, including Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, Dan Butler and Zak Jones, but proved the least impactful.
On Thursday night’s evidence, the dashing former Docker and Hawk is set to repay the faith in season two of his lucrative five-year deal.
Hill’s damaging run and silky skills were a headache for Carlton from the get-go – and the pulse in St Kilda’s offence-packed victory in the clubs’ AAMI Community Series clash on Thursday night.
He racked up almost 300 metres gained by quarter-time and never took his foot off the pedal in a scintillating display that will have planted a wide smile on coach Brett Ratten’s dial.
So impressive was Hill (25 disposals) that Blues coach David Teague sent Ed Curnow to him by the second quarter to try and dull his influence.
Defence was largely forgotten in the opening half as the two sides produced a thrill-a-minute shootout that ended 19.11 (125) to 15.9 (99) in favour of the impressive Saints.
They combined for 13 goals in a 35-minute first term and 22 by halftime, with many of them coming from point-blank range.
Goals were harder to come by after that, but Carlton would have been closer than 18 points at three-quarter time if not for straightforward Zac Williams and Lachie Fogarty misses.
Jack Lonie cashed in with four goals for St Kilda – rubberstamping his Round 1 spot, if there was any doubt in the first place – while Max King and Tim Membrey booted six majors between them.
Blues forward Jack Silvagni slotted a team-high three goals, and Williams, Marc Pittonet, list hopeful Oscar McDonald, the clever Zac Fisher and Marc Murphy kicked two apiece.
If the AFL is dreaming of more scoring this year, then this was an early indication it might come true, on top of last week’s practice matches.
There’s been a hyper-focus on the new man-on-the-mark rule and there will be more to discuss after Shaun McKernan gave away a 50m penalty to Liam Jones after illegally moving backwards.
It was an action-packed start, with Williams delivering a glancing – and high – blow to Hunter Clark in his first official act for Carlton, as Clark drove the Saints forward after the first centre bounce.
Clark bounced back to his feet after momentarily being shaken and left the afield for assessment, but soon returned to the field.
The incident will put the match review officer to work early.
There were some fallen soldiers on the night, with new Saint James Frawley hurting a hamstring in an opening-term chase, while Harry McKay (ankle) and Jack Newnes (ankle) went down for Carlton.
Max King (ankle) also took himself from the field and Jacob Weitering (corked hip) was another whose night ended prematurely.
I'd suggest Zac Williams is looking at a one-week holiday #supercoach
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 4, 2021
Zac Williams replacement for round 1? I doubt he’s playing.
— Jay (@j1trey) March 4, 2021
Are we just not going to talk about Zac Williams head high bump #AAMISeries
— Dale Kennedy (@DaleKennedy1986) March 4, 2021
Seriously, how stupid is Zac Williams? #AFLPreSeason
— Matthew Stone (@stone1_matthew) March 4, 2021
IN A NUTSHELL
Carlton
The Blues were a bit loose down back in the opening half, so that will occupy some of David Teague’s time during the week. They might need to strike a better balance between defence and attack, but they fought on well and were particularly good in the third term. Losing Harry McKay early and being without Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult meant it was a different-looking forward line.
St Kilda
There were a lot of ticks for the Saints, with the recruits – particularly Jack Higgins and Shaun McKernan – fitting in seamlessly and Jack Sinclair producing great drive and winning 28 touches in a new halfback role. They’re brimming with talent and there’s no reason to think they can’t at least match last year’s effort of winning a final.
SELECTION PUZZLES
Carlton
Paddy Dow capped a strong summer with another good midfield showing, even if it wasn’t quite as compelling as his practice match performance against Essendon. Lachie Fogarty is another player trying to force his way into the 22 for round one and was solid enough, although he would’ve loved to finish his close-range snap late in the third term.
St Kilda
There was some doubt about the Saints’ plans down back around their tall timber, but Jack Sinclair looks primed to be down there after a strong effort at halfback. Recruit Shaun McKernan will have given St Kilda’s selectors plenty to think about as well, as they weigh up what to do in the ruck. James Frawley’s hamstring injury might change their defensive plans.
ONES TO WATCH
Carlton: Oscar McDonald
McDonald still isn’t officially a Blue as the clock ticks towards the March 9 pre-season supplemental selection period deadline, but he only enhanced his chances of reviving his AFL career. McDonald was a key defender at Melbourne, but provided an aerial contest up forward for Carlton – and did it well – kicked a couple of goals and spelled Marc Pittonet in the ruck.
Jack Silvagni
If Silvagni wasn’t a round one lock before Thursday night, he was by night’s end. He was involved in plenty of the Blues’ forward thrusts, helping himself to three goals and setting up a series of others in a busy performance.
St Kilda: Jack Higgins
Opportunity won’t be a problem at the Saints for Higgins, who’s made every post a winner so far at his second AFL stop. The ex-Tiger looks to be St Kilda’s latest trade masterstroke, with his creativity, ball-winning ability and goal sense proving an excellent addition.
Jade Gresham
The ‘Gresh Prince’ hadn’t played a competitive match since round 11 last year because of a stress fracture in his lower back. The Saints were cautious with his rehabilitation and he looked sharp on Thursday night. Gresham was put on ice in the last quarter after winning 18 disposals and kicking a goal.
SIDELINED
Carlton
Charlie Curnow (knee), Nic Newman (inflammation behind kneecap), Caleb Marchbank (calf), Sam Philp (hip flexor), Tom De Koning (back), Mitch McGovern (hamstring), Levi Casboult (jarred knee), Eddie Betts (calf) and Brodie Kemp (syndesmosis) are among the Blues on the sidelines.
St Kilda
Big man Rowan Marshall (foot) is nursing a stress injury, while Paddy Ryder (head knock), Dan Hannebery (calf), Jarryn Geary (fractured fibula), Zak Jones (hamstring), Ryan Byrnes (hamstring) and Ben Paton (broken leg) are others still out.
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SCOREBOARD
CARLTON 15.9 (99)
ST KILDA 19.11 (125)
GOALS
St Kilda: Lonie 4, King 3, Membrey 3, Butler, Higgins, Gresham, Ross, Hill, Battle, Hunter, Sinclair, McKernan
Carlton: J. Silvagni 3, Williams 2, Pittonet 2, McDonald 2, Fisher 2, Murphy 2, Saad, Cuningham
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