Richmond’s medical report on Dylan Grimes to be key evidence in Mason Cox tribunal case

Richmond’s medical report has emerged as key evidence in the case against Mason Cox, who will challenge his one-match ban at the tribunal tonight.

Mason Cox will challenge a one-game suspension on Tuesday at the tribunal. Picture: Julian Smith.

The AFL says Richmond’s medical report supports its view that Mason Cox made unnecessary contact to Dylan Grimes’s head more than 30m off the ball on Thursday night.

Collingwood will contest Cox’s one-match ban at the tribunal tonight in a bid to clear the sky-scraping forward for Saturday night’s blockbuster grand final rematch at MCG.

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The AFL has come under heavy fire for the decision, but has stood by the contentious ruling, saying “the rules clearly state you cannot bump players off the ball”.

Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney said Grimes should have been fined for staging in the incident, while Dane Swan said the league should apologise for “wasting everyone’s time”.

But the Richmond medical report has emerged as key evidence in the case as Grimes is suspected of showing signs of concussion after the collision with Cox.

Cox is seen on the vision stepping towards Grimes and leaning into the Richmond backman as part of the bump when contact is made, sending Grimes to the turf.

Mason Cox will challenge a one-game suspension on Tuesday at the tribunal. Picture: Julian Smith.

The AFL classified the incident as intentional conduct, high contact and low impact.

But the Pies are certain to challenge the classification of force and appear set to argue that Cox was simply bracing himself for contact when Grimes ran towards the Collingwood goal kicker.

Match review officer Michael Christian said the medical report supported the AFL’s verdict.

“The ball was 30-odd metres away and Mason — by taking steps into the path of Dylan Grimes — intended to commit a reportable offence,” Christian said.

“And given the ball was so far away, it was graded as intentional.

“The contact was high, we were able to slow the vision down and see there was clear contact with Mason’s shoulder with Dylan Grimes’s head.

“And that is reinforced by the medical report.”

Grimes was accused of flopping in the collision to help draw a free kick in the Magpies’ comfortable victory at the MCG on Thursday night.

But Christian said Grimes was not guilty of staging.

“Slowing the vision down and looking at the momentum Dylan had built — and he was unaware that Mason was there — there certainly wasn’t a thought that he (Grimes) flopped, no,” Christian said.

“The ball is 30m away and he should not be expecting contact in that situation, with that degree of force.”

Only minutes later, Grimes elbowed Magpie Jamie Elliott in the head. Grimes accepted a one-match suspension, sidelining him for Saturday’s clash against GWS Giants.

Mason Cox celebrates a goal during Collingwood’s win over Richmond. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images.

Christian dismissed Cox’s 211cm height as a forgivable factor, saying the big man should have been more careful, knowing Grimes was running blindsided in his direction

“It is a duty of care to all players that when they elect to bump they need to do it fairly,” Christian said.

“Even if Mason had body-bumped Dylan Grimes that still would have been intentional conduct.

“If you are tall you can go and bump everyone in the head, is that it? Is that what you are saying?

“It’s a tough game, but I think the taller players have to show a duty of care. Every player has to show a duty of care.”

Hawk Jarman Impey was fined $3000 for two counts of striking Bulldog Billy Gowers, who was also docked $1500 for striking Impey in the same tangle on Sunday.

Essendon’s Patrick Ambrose and Aaron Francis, Hawk James Worpel, St Kilda’s Dean Kent, Josh Bruce and Jack Steele also copped fines.