Star Crow Josh Rachele cops ban for striking GWS forward

Excitement machine Josh Rachele has been warned to curb his behaviour after copping a two-week ban for striking GWS’ Jack Buckley.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: Rory Sloane of the Crows tries to calm down Josh Rachele of the Crows during the 2023 AFL Round 18 match between the Adelaide Crows and the GWS Giants at Adelaide Oval on July 15, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Adelaide livewire Josh Rachele has been urged to “pull his head in as a person and a footballer” after he was handed a two-week ban by the AFL Tribunal.

The 20-year-old was involved in a number of skirmishes in Saturday night’s loss to the Giants, finally snapping and striking young GWS forward Jack Buckley.

The incident was graded as intentional conduct with medium impact and high contact, resulting in a two-match ban.

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Essendon great Matthew Lloyd didn’t hold back in his assessment of the young Crow, suggesting he needs a reality check about how he is travelling in his second season.

“He’s one for me that needs to pull his head in as a person and as a footballer,” Lloyd said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“There’s all the carry on he’s got when he’s going well but gee, he was undisciplined yesterday. That bit of play, he got hit around the mouth and he went charging and didn’t get the free kick, he went chasing the player, rips him to the ground, free kick against, it was a real momentum changer.

Tempers flare with Josh Rachele (centre) of the Crows and a number of Giants during the AFL Round 18 match at Adelaide Oval on July 15, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“He got taken off the ground, didn’t get put on the phone. I think at times he thinks he’s going better than he is and I think that’s something Nicksy (Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks) should get on top of.

“You’re not Toby Greene, you’re not Charlie Cameron, start doing the little things that got you drafted because I reckon he’s got ahead of himself.”

The 14-point defeat was potentially costly for an Adelaide side that slipped to 11th on the AFL ladder, four points outside the top eight.

Rachele, the sixth pick in the 2021 draft, will now miss matches against the Demons in Melbourne and the Showdown with Port Adelaide unless he successfully fights the charge.

Josh Rachele can accept a two-match suspension for striking following this incident with Jack Buckley.

Full Saturday MRO findings: https://t.co/ifIgjok2yApic.twitter.com/1yZ01ZwP6W

— AFL (@AFL) July 16, 2023

Former Crows star Eddie Betts wasn’t as fierce as Lloyd about Rachele’s actions, but did say the youngster needs to learn how to handle extra attention from AFL defences.

“He was getting targeted all day,” Betts told Fox Footy. “But he’s got to take that on board, he’s got to take that as a compliment, they’re trying to put him off his game,” he said.

“(Adelaide captain) Jordan Dawson sat down and spoke to him on the bench so hopefully he could learn from it and move forward.”

The Crows have until 11am AEST on Monday to lodge an appeal.