First test case looms for key ban tweak; ‘flashpoint’ for escalating draft debate — AFL Daily

The MRO’s first big call for 2026 — with a new grading amendment to work with — looms, while this year’s biggest AFL draft storyline has emerged.

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FIRST TEST CASE FOR NEW MRO TWEAK

A dangerous tackle from North Melbourne defender Charlie Comben looms as the first test case for a crucial new match review grading adjustment.

Comben faces a nervous wait, with his tackle on Melbourne forward Brody Mihocek just 10 minutes into Friday’s Dees-Roos match simulation at Casey Fields set to be scrutinised by the MRO on Monday.

Demons assistant coach Troy Chaplin post-match said Mihocek, who left the field soon after the tackle, had indicated he had blurred vision before finishing the game on the bench and entering concussion protocols.

It comes days after it emerged the AFL had written to clubs and formalised several changes to the MRO process.

If it was found that Comben’s tackle had ultimately caused Mihocek’s concussion and the incident was assessed under 2025 MRO guidelines, the Kangaroos defender would’ve copped a three-week ban, because the impact of a concussion-related incident was automatically graded as ‘severe’.

But one of the key judicial changes for 2026 will allow the MRO to hand players sanctions lower than three weeks for incidents involving a concussion. It essentially eliminates the controversial ‘three weeks or nothing’ rule from last year that some players — most notably North Melbourne’s Paul Curtis — were caught up in.

“Whilst an intentional or careless act causing a concussion will usually be graded as severe impact, when other factors relevant to impact, including the observable level of force, are more consistent with a lesser impact grading … a lesser impact grading may be imposed,” the amendment read, per SEN.

It means while an action like Comben’s could still lead to a suspension, the grading tweak would give the MRO some leeway during assessment.

Still, any Comben ban would be a blow for North Melbourne, considering fellow backs Riley Hardeman (ankle), Luke McDonald (wrist) and Aidan Corr (calf) are in doubt for Round 1, while Jackson Archer (knee) and Blake Thredgold (foot) face months on the sidelines.

Scratch game incidents can be still be assessed by the MRO, even though the matches are ‘unofficial’ and not organised by the AFL. Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper in 2024 copped a four-game ban from the AFL Tribunal — referred to via the MRO — for rough conduct against Adelaide’s Mark Keane during match simulation, while ex-Crow Brodie Smith last year was hit with a one-game ban for a bump on Port Adelaide’s Christian Moraes.

The Kangaroos face Port Adelaide, West Coast and Essendon to begin their season before the traditional Good Friday clash against Carlton. They lost to Melbourne by 80 points on Friday.

2026 AFL DRAFT’S MOST FASCINATING STORYLINE

Four-time premiership Hawk Luke Hodge insists his son Cooper still must “put himself in a position” to be drafted later this year before any thought is given to nominating a preferred club.

Hodge, 182cm, looms as one of the most intriguing 2026 draft storylines, despite being considered by many recruiters as a prospect ranked outside the first round at this stage. He’s eligible to join Hawthorn under the father-son rule — his dad Luke played 305 games for the Hawks — but also tied to Brisbane as he lives in Queensland and is a member of the club’s Academy.

While Hodge has trained at both Brisbane and Hawthorn over recent months, both clubs will have to decide later this year whether to nominate him. Should both teams believe he has AFL-level talent, Hodge would be left with a tricky choice.

But the prospect of Hodge joining the Lions as an academy selection over the Hawks as a father-son choice “could become the next flashpoint for the escalating debate about access to top-end talent”, according to The Age. It comes as the AFL Commission prepares to make a call on further tightening draft rules and access to top club-tied talent in the wake of the Suns matching bids on 10 Academy players across the past three national drafts.

But Luke Hodge said Cooper still needed to prove to club recruiters he’s an AFL draft-worthy player.

“People say he has got a decision (to make), but it is up to the clubs. First of all, he has got to put himself in a position, so his next three months is important for getting the kick [and] playing a role,” Luke told The Age.

“As far as the decision, it is up to the clubs. There are pros and cons about staying (and) pros and cons about going. The thing is, first of all, is to do enough this year to give yourself an opportunity to get drafted.”

In his 17th year, Hodge in 2025 laid a strong platform for his draft campaign, impressing scouts with his toughness and intensity around the coalface. He averaged 16.3 disposals, 8.5 tackles and 3.8 inside 50s in four Coates Talent League outings for the Lions academy, before booting three goals from two VFL games for Brisbane late in the season.