Hawthorn’s Conor Nash could face a four week ban after knocking out Geelong’s Gryan Miers

There’s not many incidents in the AFL which legend Leigh Matthews believes could see a player sent off but Hawthorn’s Conor Nash delivered one and was sent straight to the tribunal.

Hawthorn’s Conor Nash has been sent straight to the AFL tribunal for the swinging arm which left Geelong’s Gryan Miers concussed and led to calls for a send-off rule.

Nash levelled Miers midway through the third term of the Easter Monday clash at the MCG leaving the Cats’ star dazed and needing help to leave the field.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews said it was the “exact incident, you only see a handful a year, where there should be a send off rule”.

Nash was reported immediately and the match review panel graded the hit as careless conduct and severe impact with high contact and

faces a ban of possibly four matches.

"This is the exact incident, you only see a handful a year, where there should be a send off rule."

Leigh Matthews on Conor Nash's incident with Gryan Miers

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— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) April 21, 2025

Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell conceded it was hard to defend Nash’s action but was adamant he didn’t have a “reputation” for such things.

“I saw it live obviously and as soon as I saw (Miers) was taken off with concussion then you recognise that that’s probably going to be a report and an MRO,” he told Fox Footy.

“My thoughts firstly go to Gryan, no one wants to see that concussion in the game.

“Nashy doesn’t have a reputation for anything like that so I’m sure that’s not what his intention was.”

Nash could now miss games against West Coast, Richmond, Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Originally published as Hawthorn’s Conor Nash could face a four week ban after knocking out Geelong’s Gryan Miers