A bump from Port Adelaide star Junior Rioli — which left his Essendon opponent concussed — will go under the microscope on Wednesday night when he faces the AFL tribunal.
Rioli was cited for an incident on Sunday during the Power’s win over Essendon, which left Jordan Ridley with a concussion and forced him to be subbed out.
AFL Match Review Officer Michael Christian graded Rioli’s clash with Ridley as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact, meaning a direct referral to the tribunal with a recommendation of at least three matches.
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Rioli had his back to the ball midway through the second term when he decided put a block on for teammate Jeremy Finlayson.
Replays showed Rioli jump into the air and turn, making contact with Ridley’s face.
Ridley crashed to the turf before being assisted from the field. He was later seen grabbing at his jaw and was subbed out with concussion.
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“Is it a glancing blow? The arm comes across. It seems pretty innocuous,” five-time premiership Hawk Dermott Brereton told Fox Footy.
“Did he deliberately do it? “You don’t know. But he’s not playing the ball, it’s behind play, and he jumps.”
Rioli’s hearing commences at 4.00pm (AEST).
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