AFL tribunal news: All the news from the Match Review Panel after Round 17

Isaac Heeney’s Brownlow hopes are at the whims of the match review panel after a blow to Saint Jimmy Webster left the defender with a blood nose, while Izak Rankine is also in the firing line. HAVE YOUR SAY.

Isaac Heeney’s Brownlow Medal hopes hang in the balance after the Sydney Swans’ superstar floored St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster behind play on Sunday.

The brilliant Swan will be ruled ineligible to win the Brownlow Medal if he is suspended for one match for the backhand swipe which hit Webster in the nose and drew blood in the Saints’ thrilling two-point win.

And a move from the AFL over summer to come down harder on off-the-ball hits looks set to cost Heeney.

Under new league rules for 2024, strikes behind play can be graded as intentional conduct, meaning Heeney’s hit could be classified as intentional conduct, high contact and low impact, resulting in a one-match ban.

Sydney would almost certainly challenge any Heeney suspension at the tribunal on Tuesday night in a bid to free him to play North Melbourne on Saturday at the SCG.

But it would also have major ramifications for the Brownlow Medal, the most coveted individual prize in the game, as Heeney was fourth favourite behind Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, Collingwood’s Nick Daicos and Western Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli.

Sydney’s jet goal kicker started the season on fire and is expected to lead the count from early on amid a career-best season.

Heeney, 28, was about to lead for a mark when he lashed out with his right arm in a bid to get some space on Webster late in the third term.

Sydney Swans’ coach John Longmire said after the match he had not seen the incident as the premiership favourite sank to back-to-back losses.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 07: Isaac Heeney of the Swans kicks the ball during the round 17 AFL match between St Kilda Saints and Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium, on July 07, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Heeney will hope the incident will result in a fine only as Webster was able to play on and did not suffer a serious injury. He required medical attention at the last change from club doctors to help stop the bleeding from his nose.

The Swan will desperately hope the incident is graded careless conduct, high contact and low impact, triggering a fine only.

But AFL match review officer Michael Christian could upgrade the incident to intentional conduct, triggering a suspension, because the hit was off-the-ball, as per AFL rules.

Suspensions cost North Melbourne’s Corey McKernan (1996) and Western Bulldogs’ great Chris Grant (1997) Brownlow Medals when they led the count at the end of the night but were ineligible.

Meanwhile Crows superstar Izak Rankine will have his own nervous wait after an incident that forced Brisbane to activate its substitute at quarter-time. Rankine will come under scrutiny for a bump that appeared to collect Brandon Starcevich high – flooring the Lions’ man and forcing a brief stop in play while doctors attended to the downed defender.

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Starcevich was turning to run back to defence and did not see Rankine in his path, who braced for contact and collected the Brisbane man front on.

Starcevich left the field with doctors and failed a HIA test at quarter-time, with Logan Morris subbed into the game.

Rankine also briefly left the field to receive treatment on a cut to his head, but returned to the field.

Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan said it was an “unfortunate” hit by Adelaide Crows superstar Izak Rankine on Brandon Starcevich, which left him concussed and substituted off.

“It’s really unfortunate when you lose a player in those circumstances early in the game,” he said after his side’s 11-point victory over the Adelaide Crows at the Gabba, 4. 13 (97) to 13.8 (86).

“The judiciary will have a look at that, I’ve got no doubt and judging by the crowd reaction it can’t have been all that good.

“He (Starcevich) failed his concussion test so he won’t be playing for a couple of weeks which is unfortunate.”

Brandon Starcevich is seen to by trainers after a collision with Izak Rankine. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Adelaide Crows coach Matthew Nicks said he will leave Rankine’s off the ball incident in the hands of the match review panel.

“I’ll have to leave that to the tribunal and the powers that be, I’ll let them do what they do,” he said.

Around the league, Port Adelaide young gun Mitch Georgiades has been offered a one-match suspension for striking the Western Bulldogs’ Nick Coffield.

Georgiades kicked five goals for the first time in his career in the Power’s big win over Western Bulldogs as he continues his impressive return from an ACL injury in 2024.

But he now is facing a week off and if Port Adelaide can’t get his striking charge of high contact, intentional conduct and low impact downgraded then the Power will be without its most in-form player for its trip to the Gold Coast.

Giants Toby Greene has once again come under scrutiny from the MRO. Picture: Brett Costello.

GWS captain Toby Greene has had his record for the most fined player in the AFL extended.

Greene was fined $6250 for striking Carlton’s Brodie Kemp in the Giants’ massive win.

It was graded as intentional conduct, body contact and low impact.

With an early plea Greene can get the fine reduced to $3750.