AFLW: Najwa Allen receives largest suspension in the league’s history

Adelaide’s Najwa Allen has received the longest suspension in AFLW history from the tribunal.

Adelaide premiership defender Najwa Allen will miss the rest of the home and away season after receiving the longest ban in AFLW history.

The tribunal on Tuesday night handed a three-match suspension to Allen for a bump on Western Bulldogs player Kirsten McLeod.

Allen pleaded guilty but the Crows had challenged the severe classification, hoping to have it regarded as either medium or high impact.

Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson said that although the incident looked innocuous on first glance, Allen’s bump had potential to cause a facial injury to McLeod.

Najwa Allen has been sent straight to the Tribunal for incident involving Kirsten McLeod.

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McLeod entered concussion protocols after the hit on Friday night.

She will be monitored closely before further assessment next week when she is due to complete the 12-day period.

The foundation Dog was told by specialists to sit out 12 months of football after a nasty string of concussions in 2021.

Her time out of the game stretched to 18 months, before she worked her way back into football.

Najwa Allen is set to be out of action until at least the finals series. Picture: AAP

McLeod opened up about her battles with head knocks to the Herald Sun last month, revealing she considered retirement.

“You get the whiplash and it rattles the brain. It is very, very tough,” she said.

“Trying to figure out what’s a normal headache, what’s not a normal headache … it can get confusing as well.”

Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke said post-match on Friday the club would put McLeod’s health first before any return.

McLeod flew back with the Dogs team after the game and will be monitored in coming days.

“We certainly won’t be rushing her back and we will take it really slowly with her,” he said.