Hawthorn captain James Sicily could again come under MRO scrutiny, this time for a tackle on Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage in Saturday’s 98-73 win at the MCG.
While Sicily was paid a holding the ball free kick, McCluggage was concussed as a result of the incident after his head hit the turf in an awkward fashion upon the tackle’s completion.
Hugh McCluggage has come from the ground after this tackle from James Sicily.
📺 Watch #AFLHawksLions LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/c5Vwhmfd1e
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/uZ5nT3AAch
🔢 MATCH CENTRE pic.twitter.com/AYsv28hCAD— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 10, 2023
Given a raft of players have been banned this year for dangerous tackles, Damian Barrett and Matthew Lloyd think a one-week ban could be coming the Hawk’s way.
While the duo believe that Sicily didn’t do much wrong with his technique, they feel he’ll be punished based off precedent.
Barrett: “Hugh McCluggage was concussed and that was confirmed by Chris Fagan Post match.
“Sicily moved him around in the tackle moving him around and his head hit the ground.
“I’d be surprised if it doesn’t end up in a week (suspension) only because of what Dan Butler got with the Nick Blakey situation.”
Lloyd: “I reckon he’s really unlucky because he may get a week.
“They’re talking about pulling the player on top of you, he actually pulls McCluggage on top of him, that’s what they’re saying to do to pull the player on top of you, which he does in that sense.
“But then he’s actually just fallen back and hit his head.
“So, he probably will get a week, but he hasn’t done a lot wrong here.”
Barrett: “He’s gone out of his way to try and cushion the blow of some sort.
“Let’s let the MRO have its fighting tonight, which they will do and I’d be surprised if there’s not a one-week attached to that part of it because I think that’s what Michael Christian is doing.
“The Tribunal can sort it out (if he’s suspended and Hawthorn opts to challenge).”
If Sicily is banned for one week and accepts the sanction, he’ll miss Hawthorn’s Round 15 clash against Gold Coast following the club’s Round 14 bye.