Anthony Caminiti referred straight to tribunal, Taylor Adams to miss Anzac Day clash

Two stars have copped bans for dangerous tackles while a young Saint has been sent straight to the tribunal over a serious incident.

St Kilda forward Anthony Caminiti’s impressive debut season will be interrupted by a significant ban after striking Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

The fairytale start to Anthony Caminiti’s AFL career will be interrupted by a lengthy suspension after the St Kilda forward was referred directly to the tribunal on Monday.

The 19-year-old SSP selection faces a minimum ban of four games after the MRO decided his hit on Nathan Murphy, which resulted in a concussion for the Magpies defender, warranted a heavy penalty.

Murphy’s teammate Taylor Adams has been offered a one-match ban for his tackle on Saint Seb Ross, which was graded as careless, medium impact and high contact.

The decision will see Adams miss the Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon unless Collingwood decides to his appeal his ban, as the Bombers are for their captain Zach Merrett, who was cited on Sunday for a similar tackle.

Taylor Adams has been offered a one-match suspension for this tackle on Seb Ross. pic.twitter.com/uVB1Lil0IL

— AFL (@AFL) April 17, 2023

GWS midfielder Tom Green also faces a week on the sidelines after he was judged to have caused high contact with medium impact to Hawthorn’s Josh Ward in a dangerous tackle during the second term of the Giants’ two-point win over Hawthorn.

Giants coach Adam Kingsley said after the game he did not think Green would be penalised for the tackle.

“I think the tackle might have been right in front of me, and I don’t think he’ll have anything to worry about,” Kingsley said.

Caminiti’s suspension will pave the way for Tim Membrey’s return to senior football in round 6, despite the St Kilda sharpshooter being held to just 0.1 from seven possessions in Sandringham’s 26-point VFL loss to Frankston on Sunday.

Membrey was reintroduced via the reserves after St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said last week it would be a difficult decision to drop a forward following his young side’s early successes this season.