AFL 2022: Leading Melbourne forward Ben Brown cops two weeks for elbow strike in VFL

Expected to slot straight back into the Melbourne team this week, premiership forward Ben Brown will now sit out one week, maybe two for an ugly off-the-ball incident in the VFL.

Melbourne premiership spearhead Ben Brown has been spared a hefty VFL suspension despite a direct elbow to the head of opponent Max Philpot on Saturday night.

Brown has been offered a two-week ban for the elbow but can accept a one-week suspension with a guilty plea under a system no longer used by the AFL.

He was set to slot back into the Melbourne team against Greater Western Sydney, potentially at the expense of young forward Sam Weideman.

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Ben Brown was expected to be rushed back into the senior side before his suspension for an off-the-ball incident in the VFL.

But Weideman will be given a reprieve against the Giants given Brown’s suspension.

Brown was running back to his spot at full forward in the Casey v Williamstown game when Philpot attempted to block his run.

Casey forward Brown, who kicked two goals on the night, aggressively thrust out his elbow and struck Williamstown’s Philpot in the head.

Brown has been in impressive form in the opening fortnight of the season kicking five goals before being a Covid close contact ahead of round 3.

He did not fly to Port Adelaide for the clash against the Power after only being released from health and safety protocols on the morning of last Thursday’s game.

Ben Brown celebrates scoring a goal against the Western Bulldogs in round 1.

Reckless ruckman rubbed out again

A reckless Braydon Preuss elbow to David Mundy’s head has robbed Leon Cameron of a key weapon against Melbourne as he fights for a new coaching contract.

Preuss remonstrated after Mundy attempted to spoil him with an elbow that struck the Fremantle midfielder with considerable force.

Braydon Preuss flattens David Mundy. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Match review officer Michael Christian assessed it as intentional contact and low impact, which means Preuss will again be sidelined for one match.

Preuss has already been suspended this year for rough conduct in an incident that forced him to miss round 1, and next week the Giants take on star ruck duo Max Gawn and Luke Jackson next week.

The 1-3 Giants will be desperate to keep their season alive before co-captain Toby Greene returns from his own suspension but Preuss’s suspension is horrible timing.

In other incidents West Coast’s Jermaine Jones was not cited for the tackle which saw Collingwood midfielder Jamie Elliott damage his AC joint.

Jones was ruled to have turned Elliott in the tackle, with the AFL ruling his actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances.

Richmond’s Toby Nankervis can accept a $2000 fine for tripping Western Bulldogs ruckman Tim English but is available to take on Adelaide.

Fremantle forward Michael Walters can accept a $1000 fine with an early plea after pushing GWS midfielder Tim Taranto into an umpire in the Dockers’ victory over the Giants.

Brisbane’s Nakia Cockatoo has dodged a suspension after his head-high collision with Geelong’s Rhys Stanley was assessed as a careless and low impact.

Originally published as AFL 2022: Leading Melbourne forward Ben Brown cops two weeks for elbow strike in VFL