AFL pre-season news: The latest MRO updates from across the AFL

Young Eagle Reuben Ginbey will face the heat of the MRO on Monday for an incident with no. 1 pick Sam Lalor last week, but one key factor could save him from a lengthy ban.

Reuben Ginbey’s eye line could help save the West Coast tough nut from a three-game suspension for the push which fractured Sam Lalor’s jaw.

AFL legend Matthew Lloyd has called on the league to sanction Ginbey for the action, saying it was a dangerous form of tunnelling in the marking contest.

But the young Eagle could be spared a lengthy ban on the grounds Ginbey could not have reasonably foreseen that Lalor would crash into an opponent flying back for a mark in the other direction.

Importantly, league chiefs will meet on Monday to discuss the matter and review vision which shows Ginbey, 20, is looking at the ball when he pushes Lalor, 18, into Eagle Sandy Brock.

Sam Lalor could miss round 1. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The league may decide to clear Ginbey as he was watching the football rather than looking at Brock, and therefore potentially unable to predict the contact and significant consequences.

It is a difficult case for the AFL on the eve of the season following a hard crackdown on head contact and dangerous tackles and bumps in recent years.

Lalor, the sensational midfielder who was taken by Richmond at No. 1 in last year’s draft, suffered concussion and had surgery on a fractured jaw.

He will not take on Collingwood on Wednesday in the AAMI Community Series but the Tigers were hopeful the top draft pick would play against Carlton in round one at the MCG.

The serious nature of the head injury means match review officer Michael Christian would have to grade the contact severe if it was deemed rough conduct, resulting in a tribunal case and minimum three-match ban.

But the incident may not get that far as the push may not constitute rough conduct on the basis Ginbey could not have predicted Lalor’s contact with an opponent coming the other way.

Lalor appeared to engage with Ginbey first with his arms when Ginbey shoves the Tiger in the direction of West Coast key defender Sandy Brock who marked the ball in the back line.

Ginbey could miss the Eagles’ first few games as a result. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

If Ginbey was found guilty at the tribunal, it could make the league reassess how it penalises players for pushing in the marking contest through the match review and tribunal system.

A three-match suspension for Ginbey would be a huge blow for West Coast as he is one of the Eagles’ most promising young players.

West Coast take on Gold Coast, Brisbane Lions and Fremantle in a tough start to the season.

Essendon champion Lloyd said Ginbey’s actions were dangerous in the circumstances.

“Has to be looked at that incident from Ginbey on Lalor,” Lloyd said.

“Lalor in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected. A form of tunnelling.”

The league will decide the verdict of the match simulation match review incidents on Monday afternoon.