AFL erupts over marathon 4.5hr Patrick Cripps appeal hearing

AFL fans were delirious as they waited through a marathon five-hour hearing to learn the fate of Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps.

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps. Picture: Jerad Williams

Carlton fans were kept well past their bed time on Thursday night thanks to a marathon hearing at the AFL Appeals Board.

The Blues were hoping to overturn the AFL Tribunal’s decision on Tuesday, which upheld the Match Review Officer’s decision to suspend Patrick Cripps for two games for his bump which left Lion Callum Ah Chee concussed.

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A grading of careless conduct with high impact and high contact was handed down and upheld by the Tribunal.

The Blues’s lawyers went full filibuster mode, as submissions lasted for two hours and 45 minutes before the Board then went to deliberate for nearly two hours.

Cripps’ chances of having his suspension dropped increased with every passing minute and finally at 10.40pm, it was announced he was cleared to play against Melbourne on Saturday.

Callum Ah Chee was knocked out by Patrick Cripps. Picture: Channel 7

Cripps is free to play. (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

AFL fans were bemused by the remarkably long proceedings and equally surprised Cripps was cleared to play.

CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny tweeted: “If the appeal is still going when the game starts can Cripps play?”

The Age’s Greg Baum joked: “Will Cripps get a discount for time already served?”

Richard Hinds said: “I’ve tried turning the AFL Appeals Board off and on but there’s still no Cripps decision.”

Is Cripps playing I want to go to bed

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) August 11, 2022

Blues defence: Cripps can’t be suspended if the appeal is still going come game time pic.twitter.com/aUPTuAMhiK

— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) August 11, 2022

Just found this photo of Crippa finding out the tribunal result. pic.twitter.com/Yp3XSa0duy

— Andy Lee (@andytomlee) August 11, 2022

🎶 “And I’ve…had…the longest night of my life.” 🎶 #Crippspic.twitter.com/1zCik7pTmC

— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) August 11, 2022

The decision is a huge boost to the Blues, who are seventh on the ladder but face the Demons and the high flying Magpies in the last two rounds of the season.

“The finding was unreasonable and did not comply with the requirements of procedural fairness,” said the Appeals Board chairman Murray Kellman.