Fremantle forward Patrick Voss has been hit with a three-match ban by the Match Review Officer for a strike which left Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin with a broken nose.
In the fourth quarter of the Dockers’ 61-point win over the Tigers at Barossa Park last Sunday, Voss swung his right arm and made substantial contact with Vlastuin’s face amid a tackle attempt.
The act, which forced a bloodied Vlastuin to leave the field, was judged careless conduct, high contact and severe impact by the MRO.
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As it stands, the 21-year-old Voss will be ineligible for upcoming Fremantle fixtures against Melbourne, Adelaide and St Kilda — pending a potential AFL Tribunal appeal.
Fox Sports’ David Zita emphasised the importance of the MRO’s impact grading.
“This was a swinging forearm to the head, it broke (Vlastuin’s) nose, so the impact (grading) here was always going to be key,” Zita told AFL Tonight on Monday.
“Severe impact is what Michael Christian has landed at. So, even though there wasn’t a concussion, the potential for serious injury allows the MRO to upgrade impact — that’s what’s happened here.
“Not an action we want in the game, so a three-match ban for Patrick Voss. The club has until tomorrow morning to decide whether it accepts or challenges.”
Voss has played four senior games for Justin Longmuir’s Dockers this season, having kicked a goal from 10 disposals against Richmond.
The 11-gamer is playing a key pinch-hitting ruck role for recently-returned Sean Darcy with Luke Jackson sidelined through injury.
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