MRO news 2024: Isaac Heeney given one-match ban, Izak Rankine faces a four week suspension

Sydney will go to the tribunal to try to keep Isaac Heeney’s Brownlow Medal dream alive after he was offered a one-week ban, while Izak Rankine is set for a month on the sidelines.

Izak Rankine hit on Lions Brandon Starvevich

Izak Rankine has been offered a suspension of four weeks after he was handed an intentional rating for the bump that concussed Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich on Sunday.

And Sydney Brownlow Medal contender Isaac Heeney will head to the tribunal in an attempt to retain his eligibility after being offered a one-week suspension for his strike on St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster.

The Swans are certain to challenge the finding given his importance to the team, with Heeney also a $6 Brownlow contender before his odds were suspended.

They believe they can use the wriggle room about behind play fends “usually” being intentional under AFL rules and also believe Webster’s medical report was favourable for Heeney.

He suffered a blood nose but that medical report is understood to have shown no other damage, which might help them downgrade the force of the strike.

On a busy day for the match review panel, the league found Jake Melksham was not guilty of a reportable offence after collecting Jeremy McGovern with a bump as they ran towards a marking contest.

Rankine’s suspension was clear-cut given he made high contact with Starcevich so far off the ball.

Under MRO guidelines every bump in play is assessed as careless because the player went into the incident not intending to commit a reportable offence.

But off-ball incidents can be assessed as intentional, which means Rankine was guilty of an intentional, severe impact hit which would be a four plus week penalty.

AFL MRO boss Michael Christian assessed the hit with that grading but offered Rankine four weeks instead of a four-plus week charge that would have seen him sent automatically to the tribunal.

So he can accept four weeks or still choose to contest the suspension.

While Rankine was unlucky that the top of his head hit Starcevich’s chin, under AFL rules he is responsible for that contact given he chose to bump.

Isaac Heeney has been handed a one-match ban. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Sydney’s Heeney will have to hope he can beat the charge at the tribunal to be available to take on North Melbourne.

Under new MRO rules brought in over summer he is in the gun because his action against Webster marries perfectly with the intent of the new rule.

That rule states: In instances where a player intends to forcefully push or fend an opposition player off the ball (including to gain separation for the purpose of contesting the ball) and the effect is that the player “strikes” their opponent, the strike will usually be graded as Intentional rather than Careless.”

Heeney was intending to gain separation for the purpose of contesting the ball and Christian only has to assess that he was guilty of a strike.

He bloodied Webster’s nose after already gaining some separation so it will be hard to argue it was a shove or push rather than a strike.

Izak Rankine has been suspended for four matches. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

A one-week ban puts him out of the Brownlow, but he has some chance of success at the tribunal given they have often overturned MRO findings.

While GWS forward Jesse Hogan beat a similar charge assessed as a behind-play fend on Carlton’s Lewis Young in April, the tribunal assessed that charge as negligent contact.

It would be more challenging for Heeney to prove Webster’s contact was negligible given the impact to the St Kilda defender.

So it will take something extraordinary for Heeney to play next week under the new AFL definition of an off-ball fend.

Melbourne’s Melksham was contesting the ball with McGovern when he clashed heads with his Eagles opponent.

A huge golf-ball sized lump later came up on McGovern’s cheek after the incident, with the premiership defender suffering a separate rib or lung concern later in the game.

Christian had to assess whether Melksham was in the marking contest or not but the MRO did not mention it as part of its list of charges so the Demons forward is in the clear.

MRO COULD COME DOWN HARD

The Izak Rankine bump which concussed Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich could be assessed as intentional — handing the Adelaide star a suspension of at least four games.

And Sydney Brownlow Medal contender Isaac Heeney will need to head to the tribunal to retain his eligibility given his certain suspension for his strike on St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster.

On a busy day for the match review panel, the league will also have to debate whether Melbourne’s Jake Melksham was guilty of a reportable offence after collecting Jeremy McGovern with a bump as they ran towards a marking contest.

Rankine’s likely suspension would appear clear-cut given he made high contact with Starcevich so far off the ball.

The Izak Rankine bump that concussed Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich could be assessed as intentional – handing the Adelaide a star a suspension of at least four games.

And Sydney Brownlow Medal contender Isaac Heeney will need to head to the tribunal to retain his eligibility given his certain suspension for his strike on St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster.

On a busy day for the match review panel, the league will also have to debate whether Melbourne’s Jake Melksham was guilty of a reportable offence after collecting Jeremy McGovern with a bump as they ran towards a marking contest.

Rankine’s likely suspension would appear clear-cut given he made high contact with Starcevich so far off the ball.

Izak Rankine hit on Lions Brandon Starvevich

Under MRO guidelines every bump in play is assessed as careless because the player went into the incident not intending to commit a reportable offence.

But off-the-ball incidents can be assessed as intentional, which means Rankine could be guilty of an intentional, severe impact hit – a four-plus-week penalty.

If AFL match review officer Michael Christian assessed the hit with that grading, Rankine would have to head directly to the tribunal.

He would potentially miss games against St Kilda, Essendon, Hawthorn and Geelong, a huge blow given he is clearly Adelaide’s most potent matchwinner.

Any concerns for Izak Rankine after this bump which floored Brandon Starcevich?

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While Rankine was unlucky that the top of his head hit Starcevich’s chin, under AFL rules he is responsible for that contact, given he chose to bump.

Meanwhile, Heeney will have to hope he can beat the charge at the tribunal to be available to take on North Melbourne.

Under new MRO rules brought in over summer he is in the gun because his action against Webster marries perfectly with the intent of the new rule.

That rule states: “In instances where a player intends to forcefully push or fend an opposition player off the ball (including to gain separation for the purpose of contesting the ball) and the effect is that the player “strikes” their opponent, the strike will usually be graded as Intentional rather than Careless.”

Isaac Heeney gave Jimmy Webster a bloody nose after this incident.

Heeney was intending to gain separation for the purpose of contesting the ball and Christian only has to assess that he was guilty of a strike.

He bloodied Webster’s nose with his arm thrown back into his opponent after already gaining some separation so it will be hard to argue it was a shove or push rather than a strike.

A one-week ban would put him out of the Brownlow, but he would be certain to head to the tribunal.

While GWS Giants forward Jesse Hogan beat a similar charge assessed as a behind-play fend on Carlton’s Lewis Young in April, the tribunal assessed that charge as negligible contact.

It would be more challenging for Heeney to prove Webster’s contact was negligible given the impact to the St Kilda defender. So it will take something extraordinary for Heeney to play next week under the new AFL definition of an off-ball fend.

Melbourne’s Melksham was contesting the ball with McGovern when he clashed heads with his Eagles opponent.

A huge golf-ball sized lump later came up on McGovern’s cheek after the incident, with the premiership defender suffering a separate rib or lung concern later in the game.

Christian will have to assess whether Melksham was in the marking contest or not as he considers whether it was a reportable act.

He had sought to block his opponent and was some metres off the ball when contact was made before he then continued into the marking contest.

PORT RULE OUT CHALLENGING GEORGIADES BAN

Port Adelaide has decided to accept Mitch Georgiades’ one-match ban for striking.

The in-form forward was cited by the MRO for an off-the-ball strike on the Western Bulldogs’ Nick Coffield during the Power’s big win on Saturday.

While vision of the incident was sparse, Georgiades was reported by the on-field umpire.

The Power announced on Monday that it would not challenge the ban, meaning Georgiades will miss its crucial clash against Gold Coast this weekend.

Originally published as MRO news 2024: Isaac Heeney given one-match ban, Izak Rankine faces a four week suspension