AFL Now: Latest updates, injury lists, tribunal and team news on Tuesday ahead of round 7

Conor Nash’s swinging arm on Gryan Miers could see the Hawks hardman miss a month of footy, but it could open the door for the return of a forgotten young gun.

Conor Nash has been sent straight to the tribunal for his swinging-arm strike on Gryan Miers in a move that paves the way for VFL sensation Henry Hustwaite to finally get his chance this season at AFL level.

Match review officer Michael Christian had the option of allowing Nash to accept a three-week ban for a severe-impact, careless strike or sending him to the tribunal for a three plus week ban.

The AFL’s advocate can now argue for a four-week ban, which would see him missing against West Coast, Richmond, Melbourne and Gold Coast.

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While Jack Scrimshaw and Patrick Voss both missed three weeks for similar tackles, the force of Nash’s strike was significant.

Miers was concussed and while coach Chris Scott said he had recovered well, he could easily miss two games if he has any delay in the concussion protocol.

The Cats take on Carlton on Sunday and then Collingwood the following Saturday.

The AFL’s concussion protocols allow players to take the field on the 12th day after a concussion but only if they pass through every step of the concussion protocol without delay.

The AFL said in the pre-season that over the past three years players have returned from concussions on average between 19-21 days on from the initial incident.

Hawthorn has been keen to get inside midfielder Hustwaite into their team this year after blinding VFL numbers.

But even when James Worpel was sidelined he was not able to get a start.

Now with Will Day (navicular fracture) and Nash out it will give them the perfect chance to get him into the action.

He is the perfect like-for-life swap for Nash after three VFL games this year averaging 34 possessions and 11, 12 and 12 clearances.

He has also averaged 5.3 tackles and five centre square clearances.

He has played six AFL games – two in 2023 and four in early 2024 – but has not been able to cement his place in the side.

The 20-year-old, who stands 195cm tall, is contracted for next year but clubs are circling him if he cannot get a crack at senior footy this year.

But as football boss Rob McCartney told Fox Footy on Monday, he has improved his game since those early chances.

“He has worked hard on his fitness across summer so he can be a more versatile player who spreads from contest.

“He’s a good kid but he’s also rightly wanting to play at AFL level,” McCartney said.

“No doubt he is eager to get his opportunity but Sam (Mitchell) does communicate really well with those players and he’s in constant dialogue. We are happy with what we are seeing and when he gets his chance he might be able to hold onto it. It’s a long season and sometimes it’s about timing.”

Bailey Smith was hit with a $3125 — down to $1875 with an early guilty plea — misconduct fine for shoving the ball into the head of Hawthorn opponent Jarman Impey in the second quarter of Monday’s pulsating Geelong victory at the MCG.

Further, he on Tuesday night earned a whack of the same value for his middle finger towards the crowd who booed him on his way to the bench following the incident.

It came a week after he was hit with a $1000 sanction for an obscene gesture to a member of the crowd in Adelaide who Smith said was abusing Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield as the team made its way off the ground.