Saint unsuccessful at tribunal; Danger to miss up to six weeks; Pregnant AFLW star to miss season
Saint Higgins still out for three after marathon hearing
AAP
St Kilda forward Jack Higgins will miss the next three matches after failing to either overturn or reduce his suspension for a dangerous sling tackle.
Higgins pleaded not guilty at the AFL Tribunal to the rough conduct charge for his tackle on Port Adelaide defender Aliir Aliir, with St Kilda counsel Adrian Anderson arguing the 25-year-old’s actions weren’t unreasonable in the circumstances.
As a secondary argument, Anderson said there were “exceptional and compelling circumstances” that made it inappropriate to impose a three-match ban, given Aliir’s kicking action heavily contributed to the incident.
Anderson said a two-match suspension would be more fitting under those circumstances.
Aliir’s head slammed into the turf after being slung to the ground by Higgins, with the subsequent concussion ruling the Port defender out of Thursday night’s Showdown against Adelaide.
The three-person tribunal panel, led by chair Renee Enbom, deliberated for one hour and 40 minutes before quashing St Kilda’s two lines of argument.
Although Enbom agreed Aliir’s kicking action contributed to his momentum of coming to ground, she said the tackle was unreasonable.
“We find this a clear case of rough conduct,” Enbom said.
“Higgins used a poor and dangerous technique in tackling Aliir to ground.
“He grabbed hold of Aliir’s left arm and forcefully rotated him to ground.
“Higgins had hold of Aliir’s arm in such a way that Aliir had no or little ability to try to protect himself.”
No Danger for four to six weeks
Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield’s hamstring injury will sideline him for four to six weeks as the Cats take a conservative approach to their skipper’s rehabilitation.
It is the second time the veteran, who turned 34 in early April, has strained his left hamstring this season after he hurt it against Adelaide in round two.
Patrick Dangerfield will spend at least a month on the sidelines with his latest hamstring injury.
The still unbeaten Cats play Melbourne, Port Adelaide, the Suns in Darwin, the Giants, Richmond and Sydney in the next six matches, with their young midfield group already having stepped up in Dangerfield’s three-week absence between rounds three and five.
The Cats’ assistant football manager Brett Johnson said they would determine Dangerfield’s exact return date midway through his recovery.
“The injury Pat has sustained is similar to the one from earlier in the season, where he missed 21 days. Given the injury is to the same leg, we will continue to take a conservative approach in his recovery and return to play,” Johnson said.
“With a focus to set Pat up for the second part of the season, at this stage he will miss four to six weeks, however we will re-assess his progress and the timeframe that he returns to the line-up as he works through his training program.”
Test for Carlton midfielder ahead of Friday night blockbuster
A fitness test will decide if Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra lines up against Collingwood after missing the past three matches with a hamstring injury, however defender Mitch McGovern has been ruled out.
Cerra has not yet played alongside Sam Walsh in the midfield this season, with the Blues losing two of the three games he has missed since he hurt his hamstring at training days before Carlton took on Adelaide.
Small forward Orazio Fantasia will also need to get through training to be named, while David Cuningham could be in line for selection as he recovers from a calf injury.
Cerra’s return would be handy for the Blues, with Collingwood midfielders Jordan De Goey (groin) and Tom Mitchell (foot) in doubt for the Friday night blockbuster between the traditional rivals.
Hawks hit by frontline issue
Hawthorn will struggle to overcome their forward woes against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday with Mitch Lewis’ return delayed another week due to knee soreness and Mabior Chol out suspended after the club accepted his one-match penalty for striking Sydney’s Errol Gulden.
Hawthorn are missing Mitch Lewis, who has not played since round three.
Lewis was named to return from a hamstring injury against Sydney last Sunday but was a late withdrawal on the morning of the match. Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said the tall forward was not confident he could get through the match.
Scans showed no damage, but the Hawks have decided to hold him due to the lingering issue with his knee that has continued to trouble him since he hurt it during last year’s pre-season.
Hawthorn, who have won just one match this season against fellow strugglers North Melbourne, are decimated in that part of the ground and found it hard to score against the Swans.
Jack Gunston will play and the Hawks may also consider including Chad Wingard, who played for Box Hill in the VFL but only one match after a long lay-off. Max Ramsden, who played deep forward after coming on as the sub last week, could assume that key post while captain James Sicily, a defender, might be an option to move forward.
Luke Breust (groin) and Nick Watson (ankle) are both facing fitness tests, while Sam Butler has been ruled out for the season after suffering a broken leg in the VFL on Sunday.
Pregnant pause: Dockers star to miss AFLW season
AAP
Fremantle star Kiara Bowers will miss the Dockers’ 2024 campaign after announcing she is pregnant.
Bowers, who shared the AFLW’s best-and-fairest award in 2021 with Collingwood’s Bri Davey, is due to give birth in October. It will be the second child for Bowers and her partner Adele, who welcomed son Nate in 2020.
“The build-up was very nerve-racking, I’ve probably never been that nervous,” Bowers said after telling her Fremantle teammates at the prompting of coach Lisa Webb.
Kiara Bowers in 2021.
“They may be a bit upset that I’m not annoying them at training anymore, but every single one of them gave me a hug and couldn’t be happier for us.”
An inaugural marquee signing with Fremantle in 2016, Bowers had to wait until 2019 to make her debut after being struck down by a succession of injuries.
The 32-year-old has played 49 games for the Dockers, winning the club’s best-and-fairest award on four occasions.
Fremantle finished 13th last season with a 4-6 record. Bowers is one of the most high-profile players to step away from the AFLW while pregnant.
Melbourne legend Daisy Pearce gave birth to twins in 2019, sitting out a season before returning to play a role in the Demons’ charge to their breakthrough premiership in 2022.
Pearce is now coaching Fremantle’s biggest rival, West Coast.
The 2024 AFLW season is earmarked to get under way in August, but the league is yet to confirm any formal dates.
Saints lock in youngster
St Kilda have re-signed South Australian youngster Mattaes Phillipou for another two years, tying him to Moorabbin until 2026.
The top 10 pick had an impressive debut season in 2023 but has struggled to recapture that form in the first seven games this year.
Phillipou has impressed at the Saints in his first 31 matches.
However, his signature is a good outcome for the Saints as it locks in a core group of talented youngsters that includes Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Mitch Owens, Marcus Windhager and Darcy Wilson, who have all shown promising signs early in their careers.
“I couldn’t be loving it more,” Phillipou said.
“I’m still just trying to be a sponge and learn as much as I can from my coaches and teammates.
“I’ve still got a lot to learn and many things to improve, but I’m focused on taking all the steps necessary to get where not only I want to be as an individual, but we want to be as a group.”
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