‘Made example of’: St Kilda’s Anthony Caminiti faces six week ban at AFL tribunal

Anthony Caminiti has been sent to the AFL judiciary, proving footy legend Garry Lyon’s fears correct over the attack off the ball.

St Kilda's Anthony Caminiti is in strife.

Footy legend Garry Lyon feared Anthony Caminiti was “going to be made an example of” over his shocking hit on Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy.

Just minutes later the AFL confirmed news the match review officer has sent Caminiti through to a judiciary hearing with a directive the panel should hand down a penalty of 4-6 matches.

The 19-year-old was whacked on Monday night with the match review officer taking into account that Murphy was left concussed as a result of the incident.

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Cameras showed Murphy appeared to shove his opponent, causing the youngster to turn around and forcefully shove the Pies defender with his second shove appearing to collect Murphy high and sending him crashing to the turf.

The incident occurred a long way off the ball which isn’t a good look.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae confirmed after the match Murphy would miss the Anzac Day contest after suffering a concussion.

Caminiti on Monday night received support from Nathan Buckley when the Collingwood legend was speaking on Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

Buckley said he believes Caminiti deserved a suspension of only two matches.

“I think it’s careless, and I think it’s high and high. I think it’s a two-week penalty - I don’t see it as a deliberate act,” Buckley said.

“Nathan drops his knees a little bit and Caminiti’s not expecting to collect him in the head, so I think it’s careless.

“In some way (Murphy contributed), and I look at the bigger picture, I don’t think it’s an intentional act.

Anthony Caminiti hits Nathan Murphy off the ball

St Kilda's Anthony Caminiti is in strife.

“Caminiti’s played the game in great spirit, he’s gone about it really well. I don’t know the kid at all; there was a bit of reciprocation going on, but I don’t know whether that’s one you want to make a big example of.”

Lyon responded by saying: “I think this is one they’re going to make a big example of.

“Nathan Broad got four weeks for a sling tackle. This is off the ball. This is a concussed player.”

As he made his way off the ground Murphy shared some choice words with the youngster and continued his verbal barrage after the final siren.

Magpies coach Craig McRae confirmed after the match there were words exchanged between Caminiti and Murphy and said Murphy may have been concussed during the exchange.

Murphy’s teammate Taylor Adams has also 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.

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.

McRae said after the match Murphy was upset about the incident with Caminiti.

“I was on the bench when he came off and I’m not sure what was said,” McRae said.

“Whether Murph was concussed and didn’t know what he was saying, I’ve got no idea. But the reality is he came of and he said something, but again I don’t know. He was obviously upset about something.”

The off ball act adds to the downside of the Saints suffering their first loss on the season after going down by six-points in a nailbiter against the Pies.

St Kilda have started their season on fire despite dealing with a lengthy injury list, the loss of Caminiti only further hurts their forward stocks.

The Saints are set to tackle Carlton in a top four clash next Sunday at Marvel Stadium in what is a monster round for the AFL with Anzac Day on the agenda next Tuesday.

The match had a number of heated incidents including one moment when Ben Paton blatantly snubbed Jack Ginnivan’s hand as the Collingwood player was asking to be helped back to his feet.