AFL MRO news 2024: All the match review news and analysis out of Gather Round

The Dees have taken a hit ahead of their clash with the Lions on Thursday night, with star forward Kysaiah Pickett ruled out after a long hearing at the AFL tribunal.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 04: Kysaiah Pickett of the Demons in action during the 2024 AFL Round 04 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Melbourne Demons at Adelaide Oval on April 04, 2024 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne forward Kysaiah Pickett will miss his side’s clash with Brisbane on Thursday night after having his one-match rough conduct ban upheld.

The tribunal on Tuesday night rejected the Demons’ appeal for the impact of his collision with Adelaide’s Jake Soligo to be downgraded from medium to low and result in a fine.

It is Pickett’s third suspension since the start of last season.

The 2021 premiership player collected Soligo in the head late during Melbourne’s 15-point Gather Round victory over the Crows last Thursday night.

The match review officer deemed his offence to be careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

The Dees were unsuccesful in their attempts at the tribunal.

Melbourne’s counsel, Adrian Anderson, argued that Pickett was bracing for contact and decelerated as he jumped for the ball, ensuring a less significant impact.

Pickett did not face the tribunal, instead submitting a statement.

“My intention was to catch the ball,” Pickett said.

“I collided with Soligo and then followed the ball to make the next contest until the umpire blew the whistle.

“I had no intention of bumping Jake Soligo.

“I was trying to intercept the ball in the air.”

After about 25 minutes of deliberation, the tribunal determined that it was medium impact and upheld Pickett’s ban.

Among their reasons were that he approached the contest at speed, left the ground, Soligo was vulnerable after disposing of the ball, Pickett’s extended arm contributed to the force, the Crows midfielder was in obvious pain and the contact had potential to cause injury.

“A concussion or facial injury was a realistically possible outcome,” tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson said on Tuesday.

“The impact to Soligo’s head was plain to see.

“He was knocked off his feet and immediately held his face in obvious pain or discomfort.”

Pickett received a two-game ban for a high hit on Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith in rounds 2 and 3 last year, then one match for bumping Carlton skipper Patrick Cripps in the head in the semi-final.

GREENE SURVIVES AFL’S DUMP TACKLE CRACKDOWN – JUST

Footy’s most suspended current player Toby Greene will be free to play against St Kilda despite a dump tackle on Mac Andrew that saw the Suns player’s head hit the Mt Barker turf.

Greene has been found guilty 22 times across his career for a total of 14 weeks suspension and $29,350 in fines given his penchant for pushing the boundaries of the AFL’s rules.

He was the five-goal hero of the Giants victory over Gold Coast in a tight clash at Gather Round, and while there was initialconcern he would come under scrutiny for the tackle, the MRO determined Greene had no case to answer for.

While tackles like the Greene incident were part of the AFL’s dumping tackle crackdown early last year, as 17 players were suspended without a tribunal overturning one, the MRO did soften its stance after a pair of precedents.

Mac Andrew remonstrates with Toby Greene. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Rory Laird and Adam Cerra were able to have their suspensions overturned in late May last season.

Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson said in overturning Cerra’s suspension for a tackle on Tom Hickey that “Cerra only has a lightgrip on Hickey’s arms. They are not truly pinned. Hickey could use one or both of his arms.”

In the Laird tackle, Brisbane star Lachie Neale’s arms were not pinned and the tribunal ruled he did not truly dump his opponent.

In Greene’s tackle on Andrew he pinned the left arm but the Suns breakout star was able to free his right arm and buffer his fall.

While his head hit the ground, the MRO ruled that not pinning both arms meant Greene would be free to play against St Kilda.

Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin did receive a $3750 fine, reduced to $2500 with an early plea, for his tackle on St Kilda’s Dan Butler given the way he spun him in a 360 degree motion.

He had his right arm pinned and seemed to tip him as he rotated him, but did not ram his head into the ground with a forcefulmotion.

MRO boss Michael Christian graded the tackle as careless conduct, low impact and high contact, constituting a fine ratherthan suspension.

Nick Vlastuin was penalised for a dangerous tackle leading to a St Kilda goal.

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BLUES’ FOGARTY IN TROUBLE

Carlton coach Michael Voss has labelled the crunching collision that saw Blues forward Lochie Fogarty topple Brownlow Medallist Michael Voss as a “great contest” despite the expected MRO heat it will bring.

Footy’s bump rule will face another serious test after Fogarty charging off the bench as Fyfe rose high to mark, with the Blues forward’s outstretched fist collecting him in the neck and upper chest.

Tempers flare after Lachie Fogarty’s hit. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos

The AFL has shown it is prepared to crack down on all kinds of illegal high contact in its bid to protect players amid a concussion lawsuit against the league.

Fogary’s collision with Fyfe initially floored the Dockers star and he immediately grabbed his throat which brought angry remonstration from his Fremantle teammates.

And, yet, Carlton will hope that the match review officer will judge that Fogarty had his eyes on the contest, with his outstretched arm an attempt to spoil the ball.

Voss made clear he believed both players had eyes on the ball all the way until the inevitable collision.

“I thought it was a great contest from two guys keeping their eyes on the footy,” he said

“And Fyfe went back with flight, ‘Fog’ came across and tried to spoil with his eyes on the ball the whole way. I thought it was just a great contest.”

Will Fogarty be suspended? Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Asked how he said that incident, Longmuir said: “The way the umpire saw it. Late contact. 50m penalty. If they want to take it further, they take it further. He is fine, which is great. I was praying he got up because he has had (concussion) issues in the past, but he’s fine.”

While Richmond vice-captain Liam Baker was suspended for a high spoil last week, the MRO found he did take his eyes off the ball before the contact with Sydney’s Lewis Melican.

The Dockers hope Sean Darcy will get through a main training session and return against Port Adelaide, but Sam Switkowski has a calf injury and Michael Frederick injured his hamstring.

Originally published as AFL MRO news 2024: All the match review news and analysis out of Gather Round