Collingwood star in hot water for Irish ambush on Eagles forward

A Collingwood defender is facing a response from the AFL match review officer after a bizarre “little Irish thing” attack on an Eagles superstar.

Mark Keane took Josh Kennedy's legs.

Collingwood defender Mark Keane is facing a response from AFL match review officer Michael Christian for a bizarre tripping attack on West Coast’s Josh Kennedy.

The Irishman’s reflexive response to stick out his right boot to take the legs out from under Kennedy was spotted by Fox Footy Cameras during West Coast’s win over the Magpies on Friday night.

The vision from behind the goals shows Keane — given one of the hardest jobs in footy to defend that key forward — and Kennedy jostling for position inside the Eagles’ forward fifty.

Sticking to Kennedy like a second-hand suit, Keane made sure Kennedy wasn’t getting away as he turned to double back towards the goals.

Keane’s leg sweep left Kennedy flat on the grass and far from impressed.

Kennedy has suffered a series of ankle injuries in recent years, but he had no issues playing out the game on Friday.

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Is Keane in trouble for this?

(via @afl)

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The kick was assessed by the Fox Footy panel at half time.

Footy great Garry Lyon said Keane needs to learn to get the trip reflex out of his game after picking up the naughty habit in Gaelic football.

“It’s a little Irish thing. You know, you’ve been there,” Lyon told Jonathan Brown.

“It’s a little ankle tap every now and again. He’ll get this out of his game. It doesn’t look great.”

Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph speculated Keane is likely to be fined over the incident, but will avoid a one-game suspension, assuming the contact is assessed to be low impact.

Originally published as Collingwood star in hot water for Irish ambush on Eagles forward