Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley predicts Magpies star Jordan De Goey will be suspended for up to five matches for his high bump on West Coast youngster Elijah Hewett.
But Essendon coach Brad Scott, previously the AFL’s general manager of football, insists the tribunal does not need to make a big statement with De Goey’s rough conduct case.
De Goey will front the tribunal on Tuesday night, sent there directly over an incident the match review officer graded careless conduct, high contact and severe impact.
The explosive midfielder faces certain suspension, ruling him out of the Magpies’ blockbuster King’s Birthday clash with Melbourne and Brownlow Medal contention.
Only the length of the ban remains to be seen.
“In my view, I don’t think the tribunal need to make a statement,” Scott told Fox Footy on Monday night.
“Everyone in the football community understands that you can’t do that anymore.
“I think we’re already past that point – it’s not about making a statement.
“It’s just about being consistent with the football community’s views on that.”
It is unclear whether De Goey will challenge the match review officer’s grading or throw himself at the mercy of the tribunal.
Buckley expects De Goey to be suspended for three or four matches but suggested a five-match ban is not out of the question.
It would be the biggest penalty handed down this season after Richmond’s Nathan Broad copped a four-match suspension for a dangerous tackle.
“It’s a bad action,” Buckley told Fox Footy on Monday night when asked about De Goey’s bump.
“It’s an action that’s caused harm and we know how much we’re protecting the head at the moment.”
Geelong’s Tom Stewart was banned for four matches over his brutal hit on Tiger Dion Prestia last season, while Adelaide’s Shane McAdam (three matches) and Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett (two) copped less severe penalties over high bumps this year.
West Coast forward Hewett took no further part in Saturday’s match after the bump from De Goey and will miss at least one week under concussion protocols.
Eagles defender Liam Duggan will also appear at the tribunal to challenge his one-match ban for rough conduct.
Duggan was cited over a dangerous tackle on Collingwood’s Taylor Adams.
Australian Associated Press