All-Australian defender Dan Houston is fighting to keep his season alive, while GWS defender Lachie Ash hopes to be cleared for Sunday’s mini-final, in tonight’s blockbuster Tribunal hearings. Live updates below!
In the evening’s first hearing, the Giants’ Lachie Ash is trying to overturn a ban for a dangerous tackle on Fremantle star Hayden Young.
The incident was graded as careless with medium impact and high contact, resulting in a one-game suspension which sees Ash currently unavailable for the game against the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
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The Giants, represented by Anais d’Arville, argued the incident was not rough conduct because it was not unreasonable or likely to cause injury; and if unsuccessful on that, they did not dispute the high contact or medium impact gradings.
The medical report stated Young required no further treatment after the incident.
The Tribunal, led by chair Renee Enbom, ran through the specific laws regarding rough conduct, in response to the Charlie Cameron and Toby Bedford AFL Appeal Board victories based on an error of law.
Ash explained: “I feel him trying to drive away in the tackle … I dropped my body weight so he’s unable to break the tackle.”
Ash said he could “potentially” have released Young’s right arm, but it would’ve allowed his opponent to release the ball, and made the conscious decision to hold onto it.
The AFL, represented by Sally Flynn, asked Ash whether the footage shows he rotated and swung Young into the ground. He replied “yes, it does look that way”.
The AFL suggested Ash could’ve tried to hold Young up rather than rotate him to the ground, that he could’ve used less force in the tackle, that he could’ve released his arm earlier so Young could’ve used it to protect himself, all of which Ash agreed with.
But Ash clarified if he had done any of those things, the tackle would have been ineffective.
The Giants argued at all times in the tackle, Young could’ve used his left arm to cushion his fall.
Houston, Ash head to AFL Tribunal | 01:59
In the night’s second hearing (not before 6:30pm AEST), Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston will face the music for a huge collision which concussed Adelaide superstar Izak Rankine, ending his Showdown and season.
The incident was graded as careless with high contact and severe impact.
The AFL are expected to ask for a five-week ban as a minimum, with Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks reportedly describing the hit as a “f***ing dog act” to opposing coach Ken Hinkley on the field.
Hinkley described Houston as a “really fair player” and the Power are likely to argue the point of contact was not Rankine’s head, but his chest – with the concussion seemingly coming from the whiplash and the contact with the ground.
With the Power set to finish in the top four, a five-week ban would end Houston’s season – and potentially his time at the club, given his interest in being traded to Victoria.
A four-week ban could see him available for a Grand Final, but only if the Power lose their qualifying final and then progress to the flag decider.
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