Walyalup (Fremantle) captain Alex Pearce has been offered a three-match suspension for the collision which left Yartapuulti (Port Adelaide) forward Darcy Byrne-Jones concussed during Saturday night’s win at Optus Stadium.
Pearce collided with Byrne-Jones as the Power forward ran back with the flight of the ball in a marking contest.
The AFL’s Match Review Officer deemed Pearce was careless, struck Byrne-Jones high and also rated the impact as severe, resulting in a three-game suspension.
If Pearce accepts that penalty he will miss matches against Gold Coast, North Melbourne and Essendon. But with the Dockers having a bye during that time, the star backman won’t be available to play again until June 29.
The Dockers appear likely to challenge that ban at the AFL Tribunal given coach Justin Longmuir was adamant Pearce had done nothing wrong after the game.
He launched a strong defence saying: “I’m not concerned at all. I loved the courage of Byrne-Jones. You never like to see anyone get injured, but from what I saw, Alex was making a play on the ball. It was extreme courage to go back with the flight like that and touch the ball before Alex gets there but from what I see, Alex is making a play on the ball.
I don’t think he makes contact with the head. What’s Alex supposed to do in that situation? Pull out of that contest and let him mark it going back with the flight? He’d get crucified if Alex pulled out of that contest. That’s what would happen.
“I don’t have any issues with it. There’s things that happen in our game and there’s unfortunate contact that happens in our game. It happens in marking contests a lot. I see it as one of those situations.
“I didn’t think it was a free kick. I’ve got no issues with it being paid as a free kick. But I didn’t think really think it was a free kick. I thought it was two guys contesting the ball. I didn’t see any head high contact.
Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Neil Erasmus were also cited but they have been offered fines. Brayshaw can accept a $1000 fine for attempting to trip Ollie Wines, Serong was fined $1000 for making careless contact with an umpire while Erasmus must pay $2000 for engaging in rough conduct towards Willem Drew.
Yartapuulti’s Rory Atkins was also fined $2000 for engaging in rough conduct towards Murphy Reid.
