AFL match review: Jye Caldwell escapes suspension for hit on Nick Daicos

The MRO has handed down its verdict on Bombers midfielder Jye Caldwell after he threw a punch at Pies superstar Nick Daicos in the Anzac Day game.

Jye Caldwell.

Essendon’s Jye Caldwell is free to play in Sunday’s Country Game showdown with Geelong at the MCG after being handed a $3000 fine for his gut punch on Anzac Medallist Nick Daicos.

And teammate Dylan Shiel has been fined $1500 for careless contact with an umpire during the third term of the game.

Caldwell gave Daicos a jab to the abdomen in Tuesday’s thrilling game played out before a record Anzac Day crowd.

The young Magpie was in pain after the impact and was on the ground for a short period of time.

But while the match review officer deemed it intentional conduct, he graded it low impact to the body, which brought about the fine.

Jye Caldwell jabs Nick Daicos

It’s a big relief for the Bombers headed into the game against the in-form Cats, who have won their past three games.

If the grading had been medium impact, he would have copped a week. Instead, he can have his fine reduced to $2000 with an early plea.

Shiel can also accept a $1000 fine with an early plea after being cited on a first offence for making careless contact with an umpire.

Skipper Zach Merrett will return for the Bombers this weekend after missing the Anzac Day clash following his one-game ban after his tackle on Tom Sparrow.

WATCH: DON TO FACE MRO SCRUTINY FOR DAICOS GUT PUNCH

Collingwood’s medical report on Nick Daicos will be key to deciding whether Jye Caldwell’s stomach punch costs him a one-match suspension.

Caldwell punched Daicos in the abdomen in the third term of the Magpies’ win on Tuesday, prompting a fierce on-the-spot rebuke from former captain Scott Pendlebury.

Typically stomach punches are considered intentional conduct and low impact to the body, resulting in a fine from the AFL.

But Caldwell will face a one-match ban if the hit is considered medium impact, pending an assessment from Collingwood’s doctors.

If the area is bruised, there is prolonged soreness which could impact his training this week, or complications overnight, the match review officer Michael Christian could upgrade it to medium impact.

The Bombers would not want to lose Caldwell for the clash against Geelong this weekend, although superstar midfielder Zach Merrett will return from suspension.

The league takes a dim view of intentional strikes and Daicos stayed on the ground for about 30 seconds and appeared to be sore, before gathering himself.

The league will consider a replay of the incident and the important medical report on Wednesday afternoon.

You relinquish ALL rights when you punch in my opinion. Over exuberant tackles, accidental contact in the quest of a contest are not as bad as deliberate punch.

— Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) April 25, 2023

I’m hearing a lot of support for Caldwell to get a fine or even off. I’m staggered. That’s exactly the type of incident that deserves a week or 2. Players are getting rubbed out for accidental, innocuous incidents. This was a deliberate punch that requires suspension.

— Grant Thomas (@Thomo_Grant) April 25, 2023

"That might get him a week."

Jye Caldwell's hit on Nick Daicos ⬇️ #AFLPiesDonspic.twitter.com/7kKgpp69VN

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 25, 2023

BLUES FORWARD COPS BAN FOR DANGEROUS TACKLE

Carlton small forward Jesse Motlop has been offered a one-match suspension for rough conduct as the AFL’s crackdown on dangerous tackles continues.

Motlop’s tackle on 199cm Saints defender Dougal Howard in the third term was adjudged as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact by the match review officer after he pinned the arms of the Howard and slung him into the turf.

Essendon captain Zach Merrett and Taylor Adams were both hit with one-match bans for similar incidents in round 5.

It is yet another example of the AFL punishing the action rather than the outcome of the tackle, with Howard playing out the rest of the match.

Jesse Motlop has received a one-match suspension for this tackle on Dougal Howard. pic.twitter.com/SLHl74fN38

— AFL (@AFL) April 24, 2023

Motlop has had a quiet start to the season after big wraps internally entering the year, averaging 10.8 disposals and a goal, and collected just six touches against the Saints.

His absence will compound Carlton’s small forward woes, with Matt Owies not expected to be back for at least another fortnight with a hamstring issue.

It is unclear who would replace Motlop if he misses their clash with West Coast, but midfielder-forward Jack Carroll starred in the VFL with 37 disposals and a goal in the VFL, while Lachie Fogarty had 28 disposals and six tackles.

In the same match Blues defender Lewis Young has been offered a $3,000 fine for striking Saint Mason Wood.

Crows forward Darcy Fogarty ($2,500) and Hawks skipper James Sicily ($1,500) have copped fines for wrestling in the third term, with Fogarty facing a more expensive sanction due to it being his second offence.

Jesse Motlop has been offered a one-match suspension. Picture: Michael Klein

MRO rules on Port skipper’s bump, Cat’s collision

Geelong star Mitch Duncan has escaped suspension for his collision with Sydney’s Robbie Fox given the unique nature of their Saturday night clash.

But Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas was handed a one-week ban for his accidental head clash against West Coast’s Jai Culley in a blow that will see him miss a Friday night clash against St Kilda.

GWS midfielder Callan Ward was offered a one-week suspension for his dumping tackle on Lachie Neale despite speculation the Lions star had attempted to play for a free kick.

Under the AFL’s own precedent players who run past the ball to collect a player high are responsible for that contact.

But in a bizarre incident Fox ran past the ball and was then collected high by Duncan, who was attempting to contest the ball during Geelong’s dominant victory over Sydney.

The AFL’s crackdown on players dumping rivals or collecting them high has seen a long list of early-season suspensions.

But Duncan was ruled to have no other alternative than protecting himself as he tucked up in a bracing position.

Mitch Duncan chats to the umpire after his collision with Robbie Fox. Picture: Michael Klein

Fox’s head hit the ground as part of the incident but as MRO decided Duncan is not guilty of a reportable incident he is not responsible for that contact.

Geelong coach Chris Scott made clear he expected his star half back to be available against Essendon next week in a clash where the dual premiership coach takes on brother Brad.

“I am not (expecting him to be suspended). I looked at it really closely and it’s almost impossible to do anything different to what he did when a player is coming at you at that speed. I am not saying Fox deliberately ran past the ball but he ended up past the ball and Mitch has got to protect himself somehow,” he said.

Originally published as AFL match review: Jye Caldwell escapes suspension for hit on Nick Daicos