Gary Ablett has been offered a one-match ban for striking, but we've seen this script before. He successfully appealed a similar ban at the tribunal three weeks ago, but will the Cats roll the dice this time? Jay Clark has the latest. RECAP TODAY'S FOOTY NEWS
Geelong superstar Gary Ablett will miss Saturday’s clash against Sydney Swans after he was suspended for the first time in his illustrious career.
The champion ballwinner was hit with a one-match ban for striking Gold Coast’s Anthony Miles with a right-hand jolt to the chin.
While the Cats have until 11am tomorrow morning to challenge the ban at the tribunal, an appeal is considered unlikely.
It is understood the dual premiership player and Brownlow Medalist was in the frame for a rest anyway after playing every game across the first 10 rounds.
It rounds out an eventful month for the 331-gamer, who recently escaped penalty for delivering elbows to Essendon’s Dylan Shiel and North Melbourne’s Sam Wright.
But there was a key difference in the Miles incident in that Ablett struck the Suns’ midfielder off the ball. It was graded intentional conduct and low impact to the head.
Match review officer Michael Christian said the league wanted to make a strong stand against these sort of behind-the-play incidents.
“Under the guidelines, off-the-ball, intentional strikes don’t belong in the game and they’ll be treated accordingly,” Christian said.
“There was a bit of pushing and shoving, we looked at all the contact that was made in the lead-up and then we saw Gary with the right fist connect to the left side of Anthony Miles’ jaw and upper neck.”
The potential to cause serious injury clause was also a factor, Christian said.
“That’s certainly relevant for highly intentional actions, as this was. That certainly was taken into account in determining low impact,” he said.
While Ablett’s one-match ban is certain to fuel more debate about the league’s disciplinary system, Christian yesterday said he believed the match review findings had been “extremely” consistent this year.
Richmond ruckman Ivan Soldo was also last week suspended for one match for his off-the-ball hit on Hawk James Worpel.
However, Collingwood’s Mason Cox, Richmond’s Dustin Martin and Ablett, 35, have all been successful at the tribunal this year.
MID-SEASON DRAFT: SEE YOUR CLUB'S NEW RECRUITS
THE TACKLE: ROBBO'S LIKES AND DISLIKES FROM ROUND 10
Christian said the tribunal considered extra evidence which he did not, such as witness statements and playing records.
“At the end of the day, I feel really comfortable that the system is the system,” Christian said.
“I get the opportunity with (AFL operations manager) Steve Hocking to look at the vision and make an adjudication in accordance with the guidelines.
“If clubs and players want to go to the tribunal it’s their absolute right. It’s part of the system.
“In that environment they can call witnesses, hear arguments and for that matter talk about the good record he may or may not have.”
Ablett was the only player suspended. Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver and GWS Giants’ forward were fined $2000 for striking incidents in Sunday’s match.
St Kilda hard nut Luke Dunstan was also fined $2000 for making round-arm high contact which floored Carlton’s Michael Gibbons at Marvel Stadium.
Saint Ben Long was cleared for his bump on Blues’ big man Levi Casboult.
RECAP ALL OF THE DAY'S NEWS IN THE BLOG BELOW
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Port Adelaide is breathing a sigh of relief with scans clearing Tom Rockliff of hamstring damage, allowing the midfield gun and popular SuperCoach selection to travel with the team to China.
Forward coach Nathan Bassett said Rockliff did some running on Monday and would be on Tuesday's flight to Shanghai.
Rockliff left the field in the third quarter of his side’s 31-point loss to Hawthorn and didn’t reappear.
Bassett revealed ruckman Scott Lycett will also likely make the trip after missing the Hawthorn game with adductor tightness, as will Ryan Burton after missing just two games with a hamstring injury suffered in the opening term of Showdown 46.
And vice-captain Hamish Hartlett will be in line to play his first AFL game since rupturing his ACL at training last April after managing 18 disposals and kicking a goal in Port's SANFL loss to Glenelg on Sunday.
Jon Anderson has stepped into Robbo's shoes today to deliver his verdict on every club after 10 rounds.
Who is flag favourite? Who is the player the Pies can't afford to lose? Who is coach of the year?
Check it all out below plus some hints on big player and coaches moves at the end of the year, and Ando's withering assessment of Crows captain Taylor Walker.
Port Adelaide is breathing a sigh of relief with scans clearing Tom Rockliff of hamstring damage, allowing the midfield gun and popular SuperCoach selection to travel with the team to China.
Forward coach Nathan Bassett said Rockliff did some running on Monday and would be on Tuesday's flight to Shanghai.
Rockliff left the field in the third quarter of his side’s 31-point loss to Hawthorn and didn’t reappear.
Bassett revealed ruckman Scott Lycett will also likely make the trip after missing the Hawthorn game with adductor tightness, as will Ryan Burton after missing just two games with a hamstring injury suffered in the opening term of Showdown 46.
And vice-captain Hamish Hartlett will be in line to play his first AFL game since rupturing his ACL at training last April after managing 18 disposals and kicking a goal in Port's SANFL loss to Glenelg on Sunday.
Just in: Gary Ablett has been offered a one-match ban for striking Anthony Miles.
Match review officer Michael Christian graded the punch during the third quarter of the Cats' win at Metricon Stadium as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
Will the ban stand? Ablett was offered a week for his elbow to Dylan Shiel but got off on appeal. We await Geelong's decision.
In other MRO decisions, Clayton Oliver, Toby Greene and Luke Dunstan can all accept fines for striking incidents in Round 10.
The match-day report against St Kilda's Ben Long for striking Levi Casboult has been thrown out.
Just in: Gary Ablett has been offered a one-match ban for striking Anthony Miles.
Match review officer Michael Christian graded the punch during the third quarter of the Cats' win at Metricon Stadium as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
Will the ban stand? Ablett was offered a week for his elbow to Dylan Shiel but got off on appeal. We await Geelong's decision.
In other MRO decisions, Clayton Oliver, Toby Greene and Luke Dunstan can all accept fines for striking incidents in Round 10.
The match-day report against St Kilda's Ben Long for striking Levi Casboult has been thrown out.
Sydney coach John Longmire has given short shrift to suggestions he could replace Brad Scott at North Melbourne, pointing to a contract that runs until the end of the 2020 AFL season.
Longmire, who played all 200 of his games with the Kangaroos, has been floated as one of the leading contenders to be North’s new coach.
The 2012 premiership coach would need to ask for a release from his existing deal to rejoin North once again.
Longmire, speaking at the SCG on Monday, was reluctant to comment about that hypothetical and recent speculation.
The 48-year-old failed to offer any guarantees or declarations but made it clear North are yet to approach him – and that such a scenario isn’t on his mind. “Yeah, I’m contracted. So, I’m contracted,” Longmire said.
“I haven’t been offered any job.
“I’ve got a job here at the moment with the Sydney Swans – I’m contracted – so that’s what I’m doing.
“There’s enough on my plate to be able to get the Swans organised without worrying about any of the outside noise.”
Longmire has become one of the league’s most highly-rated coaches since Paul Roos handed him the reins at Sydney, as per a textbook succession plan, at the end of 2010.
The Swans have never missed the finals under Longmire, although that remarkable streak is likely to end this year given they sit 15th on the ladder after a 3-7 start.
Sydney chief executive Tom Harley and chairman Andrew Pridham have both publicly backed Longmire as the right man to mentor the club’s youngsters during a testing period.
Contract talks between Longmire and the Swans, for a new deal beyond the three- year extension signed in 2016, are expected to heat up soon.
– AAP
Shaun Grigg has revealed the unusual story behind his first AFL game after calling time on his career.
Grigg retired as a premiership player after 13 years and 214 games with Carlton and Richmond, and was made to earn his AFL debut.
"Denis (Pagan, Carlton coach) called me into his office on the Thursday morning before Round 14 of my first season," Grigg told Players Voice.
"He sat in his chair and looked me dead in the eye and asked: 'In pre-season Shaun, what time did you run around Princes Park for the time trial?'. I told him it was around 11 minutes and 20 seconds."
Grigg said Pagan answered: "Righto, son, if you can go and run around Princes Park quicker now, then you’re in and playing your first game on Saturday.”
Grigg took the challenge head-on, with assistant coach Tony Liberatore riding beside him on a bicycle "barking at me, waving the stopwatch in my face to get me to go faster".
He set a new personal-best, completed a two-hour training session and Pagan fulfilled his end of the bargain, naming Grigg for his first game against Melbourne.
But the effort may have taken its toll as he collected just two marks and three handballs.
Sydney coach John Longmire has given short shrift to suggestions he could replace Brad Scott at North Melbourne, pointing to a contract that runs until the end of the 2020 AFL season.
Longmire, who played all 200 of his games with the Kangaroos, has been floated as one of the leading contenders to be North’s new coach.
The 2012 premiership coach would need to ask for a release from his existing deal to rejoin North once again.
Longmire, speaking at the SCG on Monday, was reluctant to comment about that hypothetical and recent speculation.
The 48-year-old failed to offer any guarantees or declarations but made it clear North are yet to approach him – and that such a scenario isn’t on his mind. “Yeah, I’m contracted. So, I’m contracted,” Longmire said.
“I haven’t been offered any job.
“I’ve got a job here at the moment with the Sydney Swans – I’m contracted – so that’s what I’m doing.
“There’s enough on my plate to be able to get the Swans organised without worrying about any of the outside noise.”
Longmire has become one of the league’s most highly-rated coaches since Paul Roos handed him the reins at Sydney, as per a textbook succession plan, at the end of 2010.
The Swans have never missed the finals under Longmire, although that remarkable streak is likely to end this year given they sit 15th on the ladder after a 3-7 start.
Sydney chief executive Tom Harley and chairman Andrew Pridham have both publicly backed Longmire as the right man to mentor the club’s youngsters during a testing period.
Contract talks between Longmire and the Swans, for a new deal beyond the three- year extension signed in 2016, are expected to heat up soon.
– AAP
There are few state league players more deserving of an AFL chance than Coburg’s Sam Lowson, according to his VFL coach Leigh Adams.
Lowson, 23, is touted as a top-three selection in tonight’s mid-season draft with AFL clubs taking note his forward pressure and tackling.
But Adams said Lowson’s dedication to become a better footballer while juggling a full-time job as a carpenter showed he was ready-made for the AFL.
“He’s up at five, five-thirty every morning, working 10 hours on the tools and then coming to Coburg and doing everything he possibly can to get himself better, getting home at 10, ten-thirty (at night) and doing that every day,” Adams said.
“He’ll understand what the work rate is like to go into an AFL pre-season whereas a few of these 18-year-olds coming out of the TAC (NAB League), it’s a bit more of a punt to know if they’re going to make it.
“He’s done all the hard work and he’s probably more appreciate of the opportunity knowing he’s been in the real world for a years now and what it takes.”
An ankle injury Lowson sustained on Saturday is unlikely to deter clubs from drafting the small forward if it isn't too serious.
Coburg is hopeful the injury will only sideline Lowson for 2-3 weeks.
Lowson’s teammate Lochie Dickson, a 190cm running defender, is also a big chance of having his name called out tonight.
Losing both Lowson and Dickson would obviously hurt Coburg’s on-field fortunes but Adams said it was a small price to pay if it meant their players could realise their AFL dreams.
“Ninety per cent of the boys on VFL lists want to play AFL footy and that’s their dream. If we can have a small part in pushing them up and getting that dream, then we’re more than happy to do that,” he told RSN radio.
“If it makes us have a little bit of short-term pain for the rest of this season then we’re happy to wear it for these boys to chase their dream.”
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The SANFL’s best player is on the cusp of a long-awaited AFL chance, with a Victorian club zeroing in on this year’s Magarey Medal winner Harry Boyd.