Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell has failed to overturn his three-match suspension for a bump on Fremantle’s James Aish.
The Tiger was initially given the ban at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday, with the incident graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
But the club opted to take the matter a step further, arguing Mansell was defending himself in the fierce collision that saw Aish sustain a concussion.
However, the Appeals Board on Friday upheld the verdict.
“It was open on the evidence for the Tribunal to find that Mansell engaged in bumping his opponent, and it was open to the Tribunal to conclude on the evidence that Mansell was not contesting the ball at the time of impact,” the Appeals Board said in a statement.
“These findings in our view were well within the range of possible outcomes of the evidence before the Tribunal.”
Mansell will now miss the Tigers’ matches against St Kilda, Brisbane and Sydney.
Cats reveal brutal Dangerfield injury
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield has been confirmed to have suffered serious internal injuries, after he was hospitalised following his side’s 38-point loss to Port Adelaide.
The Brownlow Medallist was sent to hospital for observation after Thursday night’s Adelaide Oval encounter, where it was confirmed he had suffered a partially collapsed lung and a cracked rib in a collision with Port’s Dan Houston.
The Cats skipper continued playing for the rest of the match despite being hobbled.
“He got a knock and then he seized up after that,” Geelong coach Chris Scott said post-game.
“I could say it’s a back spasm or something like that but the honest answer is I don’t know.
“He’s a warrior, but it looked to us like he couldn’t move.
“But he said he wanted to sort of keep trying… it was clear he just couldn’t have an impact on the game.”
Dangerfield was making his comeback from a hamstring injury suffered on May 6.
And he’s not the only fresh injury worry for the reigning premiers, with midfielder Tanner Bruhn suffering a shoulder injury against the Power.
Bruhn, who will soon have scans on an AC joint, was substituted in the third quarter.
The concerns are the latest worries for the Cats, now with six wins and seven losses.
Mitch Duncan, Tyson Stengle and Max Holmes returned to action against Port but ruckman Jon Ceglar was a late scratching because of a groin ailment.
Cam Guthrie (toe) and Sam Menengola (knee) are rated as out for the medium term on the Cats’ vague injury list with key defender Esava Ratugolea rated as sidelined for the short term.
Premiership ruckman Rhys Stanley (eye) will play limited minutes in the VFL this weekend.
“The trend has been get a couple (of players) back, lose a couple,” Scott said.
“And it’s not an excuse and I hope it doesn’t sound that way.
“But there is a really strong correlation around the competition at the moment, the teams that have good availability and good cohesion are playing well.
“We were a case in point last year where … when we got them all back and they played together week after week, we hit our straps.
“And we’re optimistic that can happen again.”
But Scott said the injury woes were only “one factor” in the struggles of his Cats.
“It’s not the whole story – ‘oh, as soon as they get a bit of continuity in game time, you know, we’ll be the best team in the comp’,” he said.
“I’m not saying that at all. I’m just saying that there is room for optimism if we can get those guys playing together for a decent chunk of time.”
Port, extending their club-record winning streak to 11 games, replace Collingwood in top spot on the ladder.
And coach Ken Hinkley’s outfit, with 12 wins and two losses, will keep top billing for at least a week, with the Magpies (11-2) having a bye this weekend.
The Cats (six wins, seven losses) retain ninth spot but could slip as low as 12th by the end of the weekend.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Swans stars out, Lions make shock call on former skipper
Sydney have been struck a hammer blow ahead of facing Brisbane, with stars Lance Franklin and Isaac Heeney ruled out through injury.
The Swans are 5-7 heading into Friday night’s AFL clash at the Gabba, but face an uphill battle after Heeney (concussion) and Franklin (knee soreness) joined their lengthy injury list.
The Swans have called upon mid-season recruit Jack Buller to debut after he booted five goals in the VFL.
Co-captain Luke Parker returns from suspension.
“Jack Buller hasn’t been here for long, but he’s playing his first game, which is great for the team,” coach John Longmire said.
“We thought he did a great job last week. It was only his first game, but he was a real presence in the forward half in the VFL.”
Tagger Ryan Clarke has been omitted, with last week’s substitute Joel Amartey named in the 22.
Veterans Jack Gunston and Daniel Rich have been dropped from Brisbane’s team, with coach Chris Fagan saying the pair told him they didn’t deserve to be selected.
There is no room for former captain Dayne Zorko after the veteran served his one-match suspension, but Keidean Coleman returns to the starting 22 after acting as the substitute last week.
Jaspa Fletcher, the son of former Lion Adrian Fletcher, will make his debut for Brisbane, and Kai Lohmann will play his first game of the season.
Darcy Fort and Ryan Lester have been recalled.
(Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The Western Bulldogs have swung the axe ahead of facing North Melbourne.
Josh Bruce, who was well beaten by Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon, youngster Arty Jones, who didn’t get a disposal against the Power, and tall James O’Donnell have all been dropped.
Six players have been added to the Bulldogs’ extended squad, but only Tim O’Brien has been named in the starting 18.
North Melbourne have regained Jy Simpkin and Hugh Greenwood from concussion.
Carlton have dropped Jack Silvagni and Jesse Motlop ahead of facing Gold Coast.
Marc Pittonet and Nic Newman return from injury, while David Cuningham, Jaxon Binns and Lachie Fogarty are on the Blues’ extended bench.
GWS welcome back gun defender Sam Taylor and vice-captain Josh Kelly from hamstring injuries against Fremantle, but Isaac Cumming has been listed as an emergency after his calf injury.
Fremantle regain Jaeger O’Meara from suspension, but James Aish (concussion) misses and Sam Sturt has been dropped.
Mac Andrew is among five inclusions in the Suns’ extended squad, while Jy Farrar has been dropped.
With Marlion Pickett unavailable for Richmond this week, the Tigers have called upon versatile tall Ben Miller to face St Kilda.
(AAP)
Roos tall inks monster long-term extension
North Melbourne spearhead Nick Larkey has rejected free agency to sign one of the longest contracts in the AFL, committing to the Kangaroos until the end of 2029.
The 25-year-old was due to come out of contract at the end of next season but has signed a five-year extension at Arden St.
Only Sydney’s Nick Blakey (2031), Melbourne midfield gun Clayton Oliver and Carlton key forward Harry McKay (both 2030) are tied to their respective clubs beyond Larkey’s deal.
“It’s an awesome feeling. I can’t believe I’m going to be a player here for that long,” Larkey said in a club statement.
“I never would have thought my career would go this way or I’d have the chance to play at North Melbourne until I’m at least 30.
“I’m really humbled, honoured and excited for the next five years.”
Larkey, selected with pick 73 in the 2016 draft, has kicked 156 goals in 84 games to date and is North Melbourne’s leading goal-kicker this season with 36 in 13 matches.
His contract extension comes just weeks after Kangaroos co-captain Jy Simpkin signed for the same length of time.
The key duo have committed long-term despite ongoing uncertainty around North Melbourne’s coaching position, with Alastair Clarkson still on personal leave.
Larkey said recent performances under caretaker coach Brett Ratten, as well as the development of the Kangaroos’ young brigade, convinced him to sign on.
“The past four weeks, even though we’ve lost, there’s been genuine positives from those games with some of the younger guys stepping up and playing really good footy,” Larkey said.
“There’s a genuine belief that we’re going to be alright with these players around us.”
The Kangaroos (2-11) are seeking to snap an 11-match losing streak when they take on the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
(AAP)
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