West Coast midfielder Harley Reid fronts the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night as the Eagles challenge their gun onballer’s two-match suspension.
On Sunday, Match Review Officer Michael Christian slapped the first-year sensation with a two-game ban for dangerously tackling St Kilda rookie Darcy Wilson, rendering Reid ineligible to win this year’s Rising Star award.
The incident was graded as careless conduct, high impact and high contact, resulting in the two-match sanction. West Coast’s legal experts will argue that a grading of medium impact is more appropriate than high in an attempt to reduce the suspension to one match.
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Reid to challenge dangerous tackle | 00:33
Reid’s highly anticipated hearing is scheduled for 6:00pm AEST (4:00pm AWST).
As things presently stand, the 19-year-old will miss West Coast’s fixtures against North Melbourne at Optus Stadium (Round 13) and Essendon at Marvel Stadium (Round 15).
Fox Footy expert and dual flag-winner David King scrutinised the tackle in commentary on Saturday.
“That’s a tackle we have to take out of the game,” he said after Reid dispossessed Wilson in crunching fashion.
“That’s the sling. (His) head hits the ground — it’s everything we don’t want. I’m sorry.
“The tackle, the action — it’s a problem for him.
“You’ve got to choose your path as an industry. I think we’ve made it well known that (tackle) is a no-no, and unfortunately it looks like this weekend we’ll have the two favourites for the Rising Star (Reid and Sam Darcy) ineligible.”
The 18-year-old Wilson — who shapes as one of the Rising Star betting favourites with Reid and Darcy ineligible — played out the remainder of the game.
However, before Reid’s fate is finalised, the Western Bulldogs will challenge forward Rhylee West’s one-game suspension after bumping Collingwood defender Jeremy Howe on Friday night.
West copped a one-match ban for his act, with the MRO deeming it careless conduct, medium impact, high contact.
The 23-year-old forward’s hearing is scheduled for a 4:30pm AEST start.
West’s forward-line Dogs teammate Darcy was also suspended last Friday, having since accepted a two-match ban after clattering into a backwards-moving Brayden Maynard.
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Source Agencies
