Hawthorn to Contest Newcombe's Suspension at AFL Tribunal
Hawthorn Football Club is set to head to the AFL tribunal in a determined effort to have co-captain Jai Newcombe cleared to play in their Opening Round match against GWS. Newcombe will challenge his one-match suspension for rough conduct, which was issued following a tackle on Western Bulldogs opponent Ed Richards during a recent practice match.
Details of the Incident and MRO Grading
The incident occurred when Newcombe tackled Richards, who had one arm pinned but was not seriously injured. Richards quickly got up to take his free kick and continued playing out the rest of last Friday night's practice match. The match review officer (MRO) graded the tackle as careless conduct with medium impact and high contact. While the tackle could have been graded as low impact, the MRO has the discretion to elevate the force grading based on the potential to cause serious injury.
Hawthorn's Strategy and Expert Opinions
Hawthorn may attempt to have the impact downgraded at Tuesday night's tribunal hearing, as they seek to avoid another significant blow to their midfield stocks. In the practice match broadcast, former Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley and Melbourne great Garry Lyon offered contrasting views. Lyon noted that the tackle ticked many boxes for a suspension, citing the pinned arm and head hitting the ground, but acknowledged that Richards playing on might help Newcombe's case. Hinkley, however, felt the outcome was crucial and doubted Newcombe would face severe trouble, describing the tackle as fair and with natural force.
Team Context and Personnel Issues
Hawthorn's midfield is already depleted, with star ball-winner Will Day sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Cam Mackenzie out with concussion, and free agent James Worpel having defected to Geelong over the off-season. Meanwhile, GWS is grappling with an even greater personnel crisis for the Engie Stadium grudge match against Hawthorn, who eliminated them from the finals last year. Key players like Tom Green, Josh Kelly, Sam Taylor, and Toby Bedford are all injured, though Finn Callaghan is reportedly ready to play despite hip flexor concerns. Teammate Aaron Cadman emphasized that GWS is still motivated by their previous loss to Hawthorn, promising a competitive game.
Other AFL News
In other AFL developments, West Coast youngster Harry Schoenberg received a one-match ban for intentionally striking Port Adelaide's Logan Evans, while Essendon midfielder Sam Durham was cleared over a potentially dangerous tackle on St Kilda's Ryan Byrnes.
