Sydney forward Sam Wicks has been handed a two-match ban for striking but Brisbane Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry’s report for a dangerous tackle has been thrown out.
Wicks was reported in the second quarter of the Swans’ 16-point loss to Brisbane on Friday night for a high shot on Ryan Lester, when he leapt off the ground and needlessly collected the veteran defender with his forearm.
The incident was assessed by match review officer Michael Christian as careless conduct, high contact and high impact, which draws a two-match ban.
But the Lions’ Berry has avoided a ban after his tackle on Sydney’s Will Hayward wasn’t considered to be “unreasonable in the circumstances”.
Berry swung Hayward around, though he didn’t pin both his arms, and the Swan’s head hit the deck when he was brought to ground, which drew an immediate report.
Hayward played out the game.
“Will Hayward takes possession of ball on the wing and is tackled by Berry,” the AFL said in a statement.
“It was the view of the MRO that Berry discharged his duty of care in the manner he took Hayward to ground and that his actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances.
“No further action was taken.”
A plethora of players have been suspended for dangerous tackles this season amid an AFL crackdown.