Brisbane was fighting the suspensions handed down to Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner
Brisbane suffered a significant setback ahead of their Saturday matchup with Sydney as the AFL Tribunal upheld the suspensions of key defenders Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner.
The ruling leaves the reigning premiers shorthanded in the backfield as they prepare to face Sydney’s latest offensive threat, Charlie Curnow. Andrews, the Lions’ co-captain, will be sidelined for three matches, while Gardiner will miss the contest at the SCG.
Adding to Brisbane’s woes, fellow flag-winning stars Hugh McCluggage (calf injury) and Zac Bailey, who accepted a one-match ban for striking, will also be unavailable this week.
Andrews argued before the Tribunal on Tuesday night that his contact with Western Bulldogs forward Arthur Jones during their season-opening defeat was accidental. He testified he was attempting to shepherd teammate Dayne Zorko when his arm made contact with Jones, resulting in a concussion.
The AFL Match Review Officer had assessed the incident as careless conduct, high contact, and severe impact. Brisbane, through legal representative Adrian Anderson, contended the force of the blow wasn’t severe enough to warrant a three-match suspension.
However, the Tribunal determined the attempted shepherd was a careless strike with a severe impact. “It left Jones motionless on the turf for a period of time and he suffered a concussion and immediate bruising below his eye,” the Tribunal stated in its verdict. “We find that this is a careless strike, high contact and severe impact.”
Gardiner’s appeal centered on whether his contact with Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton constituted a strike. Anderson argued it was a double-handed push that resulted in glancing contact between Gardiner’s tricep and Naughton’s neck.
The Lions also pointed to a similar incident from the previous season involving Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield, where high contact with St Kilda’s Ryan Byrnes was deemed low impact, resulting in a fine rather than a suspension.
The Tribunal rejected Brisbane’s arguments, concluding the impact was more than negligible and Gardiner’s action was indeed a strike. “We do not accept that it was in the end a push, although it may have started out as a pushing motion,” the jury said. “Gardiner’s right arm, in particular, extended up and we find that forceful contact was made by the forearm, elbow and tricep region with Naughton’s neck and head. The impact was more than negligible. The frame-by-frame viewing shows forceful contact was made.”
Bailey received a one-match ban for a high elbow to Bulldogs debutant Michael Sellwood after being tackled over the boundary line.
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“We do not accept that it was in the end a push, although it may have started out as a pushing motion,” the jury said in its verdict.
“Gardiner’s right arm, in particular, extended up and we find that forceful contact was made by the forearm, elbow and tricep region with Naughton’s neck and head.
“The impact was more than negligible. The frame-by-frame viewing shows forceful contact was made.”
