Brisbane Lions Face Major Setback with Tribunal Decisions
The Brisbane Lions have been dealt a significant double blow ahead of their upcoming match against the Sydney Swans, as the AFL tribunal has upheld suspensions for key defenders Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner. This ruling leaves the reigning premiers severely undermanned in defence as they prepare to take on the Swans at the SCG on Saturday night.
Andrews Receives Three-Match Ban for Concussion Incident
Lions co-captain Harris Andrews has been banned for three matches following an incident in the season-opening defeat to the Western Bulldogs. Andrews gave evidence at the tribunal, arguing that he was attempting to shepherd for teammate Dayne Zorko when he threw his left arm back, accidentally concussing Bulldogs forward Arthur Jones. He described the event as a very unfortunate accident, stating he was unaware Zorko had gone to ground after a marking contest.
The AFL match review officer graded the incident as careless conduct, high contact, and severe impact. Brisbane, represented by legal counsel Adrian Anderson, contested the ruling, claiming the action was not careless and did not warrant a three-match ban due to insufficient force. However, the tribunal found the attempted shepherd was clearly a careless strike with severe impact, noting that Jones was left motionless on the turf, suffered a concussion, and had immediate bruising below his eye.
Gardiner Also Suspended for Striking Charge
Darcy Gardiner will miss the Swans clash after the tribunal upheld his suspension for striking. Gardiner argued he was not guilty, claiming his high contact with Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton did not constitute a strike. Anderson described it as a double-handed push that resulted in glancing contact with Naughton's neck.
The Lions submitted that the incident should be graded as low impact at most, pointing to Naughton's clean bill of health in the medical report. They compared it to a similar case from last season involving Patrick Dangerfield, which resulted in a fine rather than a suspension. Despite this, the tribunal rejected Brisbane's arguments, finding that Gardiner's action was a strike with more than negligible impact, as forceful contact was made with Naughton's neck and head.
Additional Absences Compound Lions' Woes
Further compounding the Lions' challenges, fellow flag stars Hugh McCluggage and Zac Bailey are also unavailable this week. McCluggage is sidelined with a calf injury, while Bailey did not contest his one-match ban for striking, which involved a high elbow to Bulldogs debutant Michael Sellwood after being tackled over the boundary line.
This series of suspensions and injuries leaves Brisbane in a precarious position as they attempt to blunt the attack of new Sydney spearhead Charlie Curnow. The tribunal's decisions underscore the AFL's strict stance on player safety and conduct, setting a precedent for future disciplinary actions.
