Richmond skipper Nankervis cops three-match ban for bump; Pies recall guns; Bevo backs Bailey

“As a leader of the football club I’m accountable and need to be a lot better than that.”

Outlining the decision for a three-match ban, tribunal chair Renee Enbom said Nankervis had breached his duty of care in the way he chose to bump Lloyd.

“There was considerable force in Mr Nankveris’ bump. The bump was late, in that it occurred shortly after Mr Lloyd had disposed of all the ball,” she said.

Enbom added that the sanction would have been higher if Nankervis had not shown remorse after the game and while giving evidence at the tribunal.

The AFL, represented by Sally Flynn, sought a four-match ban for the bump, despite accepting that Nankervis had shown genuine remorse.

Tigers lawyer Sam Tovey successfully argued against the lengthy ban, claiming there were “specific and discreet” parts before and after the tackle which showed Nankervis attempted to slow, and later prevent the contact.

He pointed to two previous tribunal cases – Jordan De Goey in round 12 of this season, and Patrick Dangerfield in round one of the 2021 season – which both resulted in three-match bans.

Tovey said these two similar cases were more serious than Nankveris’ because of the risk and seriousness of injury, and therefore: “Nankervis might well be left with a justifiable sense of grievance if he were to be handed a four-week ban.”

However, Flynn said both cases were not relevant, noting that the AFL sought a four-match ban for the De Goey case.

“The contact occurred slightly later in the De Goey incident … Nankervis made the decision to bump significantly earlier [than De Goey did] – meaning it wasn’t a split-second decision,” she said.

In response to the Dangerfield example, Flynn said while she conceded the incident itself is similar, it was not relevant because the MRO and AFL Tribunal have taken a much stronger approach to head-high contact since the penalty was handed down.

Meanwhile, representing the Dockers, Seamus Rafferty sought to dismiss the one-match ban Serong was issued when he tackled Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra during Sunday’s 53-point home loss to the Blues.

The match review officer graded the 22-year-old’s action as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, which the club contested.

“This is not a case where you should be satisfied on the balance of probabilities that this is a dangerous tackle,” Rafferty urged the tribunal panel.

“There’s been no excessive force. There was an arm that could be used, and the suggestion that there was more than one action is inconsistent with the footage.”

Representing the AFL, Flynn said the tackle was dangerous because Serong had come from behind, pinned Cerra’s right arm, and then rotated the Carlton midfielder, which drove Cerra into the ground with force.

The tribunal deliberated for over an hour before it upheld the original charge. The verdict means Serong will miss this week’s match against Collingwood.

“Mr Serong pinned Mr Cerra right arm from early in the tackle,” Enbom said.

“He then decided to rotate Mr Cerra into the ground whilst still holding his arm. Mr Serong had pinned enough of Mr Cerra’s right arm … to prevent him from being able to use the that arm … to protect himself as he was rotated into the ground.”

Enbom said while neither player was injured, there was real risk for a head injury. The tribunal determined Serong had used excessive force, and had breached his duty of care.

“There were other options reasonably open to him,” she said. “The charge is upheld.”

Knee to sideline Kennedy, Pies welcome back guns

Andrew Wu with AAP

Carlton midfielder Matt Kennedy has avoided a dreaded tear of the anterior cruciate ligament, but is still set to miss an extended period with a knee injury.

The Blues have confirmed the in-form hardman sustained a high-grade MCL injury during the club’s win over Fremantle, in a big blow to the club’s hopes of snatching an unlikely finals berth.

Kennedy remains a chance to play late in the season, the Blues say, though there is a distinct possibility his campaign has been prematurely ended for the second year running.

In-form backman Mitch McGovern (corked thigh) and ruckman Tom De Koning (knee) must pass fitness tests to line up against Port Adelaide this week, while big man Marc Pittonet is considered “unlikely” to be available.

Pittonet remains a “week-to-week” prospect after hurting his knee before the bye.

The Blues overcame the absence of both Pittonet and De Koning to defeat Fremantle, who lost the clearance count despite their ruck dominance.

Meanwhile, rampant ladder-leaders Collingwood will be boosted by the return of All-Australian duo Brayden Maynard and Steele Sidebottom for Saturday’s clash with the Dockers.

The pair’s inclusion for the clash at the MCG pushes the Magpies closer to full-strength, with only forwards Brody Mihocek and Will Hoskin-Elliott from Collingwood’s strongest 22 still missing.

Maynard sat out last Friday night’s match with the Western Bulldogs due to a shoulder issue. But Collingwood have declared the defender fit to take on the Dockers after undergoing a fitness test.

Sidebottom has missed the past six weeks after hurting his knee during his 300th game against North Melbourne in late May. But the 32-year-old has been part of full training for more than a week and has passed a number of tests.

Mihocek will sit out at least one more game with a hamstring injury and will return to full training next week in a bid to be ready to play in a top-two showdown against Port Adelaide in round 19.

St Kilda have been dealt three further blows on top of Max King’s season-ending shoulder injury.

Jack Billings is set to miss at least two games after fracturing his thumb in last week’s 21-point loss to Melbourne, while Seb Ross has been ruled out for four-to-six weeks with a hamstring injury. Zaine Cordy will miss Saturday’s fixture with Gold Coast due to concussion.

“Jack fractured his thumb on Saturday night, so has had surgery to address that this week,” St Kilda’s acting football manager David Misson said.

Forward Tim Membrey, who has been sidelined since round nine with a knee injury, is still listed as being four to five weeks away.

In better news for St Kilda, Josh Battle (concussion), Jack Higgins (knee) and Bradley Hill (knee) could all return against the Suns.

I’ve never seen Dons play better: Merrett

AAP

In his 199 games with Essendon, Zach Merrett says the Bombers have never played better than they did against Adelaide in round 17.

The Essendon captain will line-up for his 200th game this weekend with the Bombers arguably better placed than at any time in his 10 seasons at the club to end their 19-year drought without winning a final.

Essendon sit fifth ahead of their monster clash with reigning premiers Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday night.

Last Sunday they blew away fellow finals contenders Adelaide thanks in no small part to a 12-goal first half.

Merrett, who was drafted in 2013, said he had never been part of a more complete performance at Essendon

“It was an extremely powerful first half the way we played,” Merrett said.

“There’s certainly been areas of our game … that we haven’t been up to scratch with, even though we’ve been winning a few games.

“Our defence and our ability to play, on our terms, was probably the best I’ve ever seen.

“You could feel the energy in the stadium, with all our fans getting right behind the way we were playing.

“Out there watching all the teammates – it felt like there was 15 or 16 guys playing their best footy at once – was extremely powerful.”

Merrett has stuck with Essendon during a tumultuous period for the club in which he actively questioned his future at Tullamarine.

But the 27-year-old is determined to remain a one-club player and is now reaping the rewards of staying loyal.

“Being a one-club player in the AFL system is still a really special thing and certainly something I want to do,” he said.

Merrett hopes his example will convince midfielder Darcy Parish and star defender Mason Redman to turn down offers from elsewhere and recommit to the Bombers.

Meanwhile teammate Brandon Zerk-Thatcher is desperate for another crack at Tom Hawkins after he was monstered by the big Cat last time they met.

The Bombers were powerless to stop Hawkins in round seven as the imposing forward’s career-best eight-goal haul steered the Cats to a commanding victory.

Zerk-Thatcher was no match for his stronger and more experienced opponent, who kicked four of his majors in a 15-minute first-quarter blitz.

“It would be nice to get one back on him,” Zerk-Thatcher said. “It wasn’t one of my best games and I’m looking to do better than last time we played.”

Hawkins booted six first-half goals on Zerk-Thatcher in round seven before Essendon coach Brad Scott belatedly switched Jordan Ridley onto the Cats’ spearhead.

Ridley kept Hawkins to two goals in the second half but is almost certain to miss this week with bone bruising in his left knee from a hyperextension.

Jayden Laverde, who sat out the previous clash with a shoulder injury, presents another option to Zerk-Thatcher in defence.

Beveridge defends young Bulldog Smith

AAP

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has slammed “disrespectful” commentary about Bailey Smith after revealing the out-of-form star has been struggling with illness.

The 22-year-old endured a tough night against Collingwood last Friday, finishing with just 11 disposals in the Bulldogs’ 12-point defeat to the premiership favourites.

Smith then missed the Bulldogs’ main training session at the Whitten Oval on Tuesday through illness and is no certainty to play against Sydney at the SCG on Thursday night.

One of the AFL’s most marketable faces, Smith’s form has been a major talking point in the media in recent days and discussion has even turned to if he should move clubs.

But Beveridge labelled the commentary “pungent” and said there were reasons why the midfielder had been below his explosive best.

“Post-game he was sick,” Beveridge said in a passionate defence of Smith on Tuesday.

“He wasn’t in early in the week because he’s been ill. He was ill leading into the game, so he wasn’t feeling his best, but he wanted to play.

“All these things that people aren’t aware of, and if you haven’t got the information, you don’t know the facts, then all you do is do harm.

“Speculation around whether or not he should be at another club or not, it’s just disrespectful and we’ve got a really good track record here with our players.”

Smith’s profile has skyrocketed since being drafted by the Bulldogs in 2018, becoming one of Australian sport’s most recognisable faces.

He instantly had an impact for the Dogs on the field, playing a starring role in the club’s extraordinary charge to the 2021 grand final.

Smith has a huge social media following and has a strong connection to younger fans for openly discussing his mental health challenges. He received a two-game suspension by the AFL last year for conduct unbecoming after footage emerged of him using illicit drugs.

“We all see the potential of a young man who should be a really influential player in the competition,” Beveridge said.

“He’s had some real challenges; he’s had injury, obviously had some time out of the game, and he’s been quite open with his mental health side of it.

“All we’ve ever done here is look after Bailey and even [on Monday] him and I and our communications were in a really good place.

“If there’s speculation around these things … if media want to drum that up, what you’re not doing is looking after Bailey Smith.

“We’re hoping that, whether it’s this year, or into next year, that he finds his way to his absolute best and we’re just going to help him and we believe he can get there.”

Meanwhile, Beveridge said defender Ryan Gardner remained a chance to face the Swans after hurting his ankle against the Magpies.

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