A Tuesday night tribunal double-header looms, with two star key forwards to argue their cases after their respective incidents across Round 4.
Dual premiership Tiger Tom Lynch on Sunday was referred directly to the tribunal for his contact with Bulldogs defender Alex Keath during Richmond’s loss on Saturday. Match Review Officer Michael Christian graded Lynch’s rough conduct charge as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact, equating to a direct referral to the tribunal as it’s been dubbed worthy of at least a three-game ban.
Carlton on Tuesday confirmed it would challenge the one-match suspension handed to Coleman Medallist Harry McKay for his incident with North Melbourne young gun Harry Sheezel on Good Friday.
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The MRO graded McKay’s striking charge as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, equating to a one-match ban.
It’s understood the tribunal will hear McKay’s case first before Lynch’s.
The Blues, who’ve won three of their first four games, face the in-form Adelaide Crows on Thursday night in the first match of Gather Round.
Meanwhile, Fox Footy pundits on Sunday night were split on whether Lynch should be banned.
“I think you‘ve got to work out did he choose to bump at all. I find it really difficult to say he did or didn’t,” dual premiership Kangaroo David King told Fox Footy’s First Crack.
“I‘m not absolutely sure that he decided to take the player … I’m the hardest on it (protecting the head), but I’ve got grey area.”
But dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna said if Lynch escaped suspension, it’d go against the hard stance the MRO and tribunal had taken across the first month of the season.
“I think we‘re seeing some consistency now that if you don’t make a genuine play for the ball, or at least attempt to go for the ball, we are seeing those acts get suspended,” Montagna told Fox Footy’s First Crack.
“I just think for the sake of the game, if he gets off that, I think it‘ll go back to being confusing for everyone.”
Regardless of any punishment Lynch could receive, the Tigers will still be without their star goalkicker for up to two months after he suffered a fractured foot against the Dogs.
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