Swans defender Lewis Melican has been dealt a three-match suspension from the Match Review Officer for a strike on GWS’ Toby Bedford.
Melican collected Bedford high in a contest for the ball, ultimately forcing the Giants midfielder out of Sunday’s derby at half-time.
The backman’s act was deemed careless conduct, high contact and severe impact, and he’s set to miss upcoming clashes with Essendon, Carlton and Melbourne, pending a possible challenge from Sydney.
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Bedford passed a head injury assessment but was ruled out with complaints of blurred vision with nasty swelling present.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s First Crack on Sunday night, Herald Sun chief football writer Jay Clark said Melican was looking at a lengthy ban.
“We said there was some spite – well this was some genuine anger,” Clark said on First Crack.
“There is some venom in that swing. It’s the kind of action we don’t want to see in football.
“That’s a three-match suspension straight up. Albeit it’s careless because it was sort of in the play, it clearly hits him high and that was the end of Bedford’s day.”
Cox said the incident wasn’t characteristic of Melican’s game.
“I’ve only seen it briefly. I understand that it’ll go through the AFL and the tribunal. Obviously we hope Toby is OK,” he said.
“Lewis has probably got an immaculate record (at the tribunal). The way he plays his footy, he isn’t malicious.
“He’s always been a ball-player and that’s why we love having him at our footy club. That will play out in the next couple of days.
“You want to back your players in playing at a level that doesn’t overstep the mark.”
Giants coach Adam Kingsley confirmed Bedford’s eye bore the brunt of the collision, but wouldn’t be drawn in to comment on the challenge from Melican.
“He seems OK. He’s just got really blurred vision. He can’t see out of that eye at all,” Kingsley said.
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“We had to make the sub at half-time, which was quite disappointing for us.
“I didn’t really see it and I haven’t watched the replay, so it’s not really fair for me to make comment.”
The incident wasn’t isolated with both teams refusing to take a backwards step in a spiteful 30th edition of the Sydney Derby.
Meanwhile, exciting Hawthorn forward Nick Watson has been fined $1,000 after he was filmed making an obscene gesture during Sunday’s win over Richmond.
In footage that that has been widely circulated on social media, Watson can be seen ‘flipping the bird’ to Richmond fans as the three-quarter time siren sounded.
Geelong’s Bailey Smith and West Coast’s Harley Reid have been fined by the MRO for similar gestures this year.
It was one of a whopping 17 fines for the game, with the 16 others copping financial sanctions for engaging in a melee/wrestle.
— NCA NewsWire
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