Patrick Dangerfield is staring down the barrel of a big AFL suspension after being sent directly to the AFL Tribunal for his bump on the Adelaide Crows’ Jake Kelly.
The second-quarter bump caused a head clash between Dangerfield and Kelly, leaving the latter knocked out on the Adelaide Oval turf on Saturday afternoon.
The AFL’s match review panel deemed the hit careless conduct, severe impact (the highest grading) and high contact.
Kelly was coming out of defence and got a handball away before Dangerfield made contact. Kelly left the game on a stretcher and did not return.
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While his shoulder did not hit Kelly’s head, Dangerfield’s decision to bump, rather than simply brace himself for unavoidable contact, means he is facing a potentially long stint on the sidelines.
Boom Brisbane recruit Joe Daniher can accept a $2,000 fine with an early guilty plea for his strike on Sydney defender Dane Rampe.
Essendon duo Mason Redman and Nik Cox can also accept $2,000 fines after being charged with rough conduct and striking respectively.
ABC/AAP
