‘Doesn’t seem right’: Fremantle captain Alex Pearce’s ugly collision sparks AFL debate

Fremantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce has learnt his fate for an ugly hit on an opposition player that sparked heated debate in AFL circles.

Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has learnt his fate over an ugly collision in his side’s win over Port Adelaide on Saturday.

The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of Fremantle’s 49-point victory when Pearce jumped off the ground and collected Power halfback Darcy Byrne-Jones in a heavy hit.

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Byrne Jones lay on the turf at Optus Stadium before being helped from the field. He played no further part in the game.

On Sunday evening the AFL’s Match Review Officer handed down his ruling with the incident graded as careless, high contact and severe impact.

The result sees Pearce slapped with a three-game suspension which the Dockers will more likely than not take to the Tribunal.

If he’s unsuccessful in having the ruling overturned, Pearce will miss games against Gold Coast, North Melbourne and Essendon.

Watch Alex Pearce’s collision with Darcy Byrne-Jones in the video above

Alex Pearce collided with Port Adelaide's Darcy Byrne-Jones. Photo: Fox Footy.

The incident however sparked widespread confusion among footy greats who didn’t feel Pearce had done anything wrong.

Damian Barrett told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show: “I don’t exactly know what he (Pearce) is expected to do in that situation, but we know how the game views that.”

Former Adelaide Crow Rory Sloane added: “As a defender you’ve got no choice but to brace. I think he’s going to be given three weeks unfortunately on the back of what we’ve seen so far this year.”

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said: “It’s hard as a defender when you commit and then at the last second you see (the player) and you brace yourself.”

Barrett added: “It doesn’t seem right, the three weeks, does it.”

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir defended his skipper after the game, saying he thought he was making a play on the ball. Power coach Ken Hinkley didn’t seem so sure.

“Once upon a time, there were footy incidents that weren’t such a big issue, but they are now, and rightly so, because of the concussion,” Hinkley said.

“I’m sure both players went at the ball pretty reasonable.

“But in the end, there was a brace, seemed like a brace that causes some problems, and whether that’s Darcy hitting his head on the ground or not, it causes concussion.”

Byrne-Jones was in the prime position to take a mark. Only at the last second does Pearce appear to change focus from the ball to the Port forward, bracing a catching him high with his shoulder.

Byrne-Jones’ head does appear to hit the ground quite hard, however, Longmuir is not expecting anything to come from it.

“I’m not concerned at all,” he said.

Darcy Byrne-Jones of the Power lays on the turf after the hit. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Darcy Byrne-Jones is helped from the field. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

“I love the courage of Byrne-Jones. You never like to see anyone get injured. But from what I saw, Alex is making a play on the ball.

“Extreme courage to go back with the flight like that and touch the ball before Alex gets there. But from what I see, Alex is making a play on the ball.

“I don’t think he makes contact with the head.

“What’s Alex supposed to do in that situation? Pull out of that contest and let him mark it, going back with a flight? He’d get crucified, if Alex pulled out of that contest, that’s what would happen.

“I didn’t think it was a free kick. I’ve got no issues with it being paid a free kick. But I didn’t really think it was a free kick. I just thought it was two guys contesting the ball.

“I didn’t see any head high contact.”

With NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Doesn’t seem right’: Fremantle captain Alex Pearce’s ugly collision sparks AFL debate