Brisbane head to the AFLW Tribunal tonight to try and free two of their stars to play in this weekend’s qualifying final against Adelaide.
And they won’t be alone in their challenge, with Cat Kate Darby also electing to fight her one-match ban for rough conduct.
Darby will be the first hearing of the night from 6pm AEDT, with Lions duo Dee Heslop and Charlotte Mullins to follow.
Watch every match of The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Live with no ad breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
Heslop is facing the biggest ban in AFLW history for her crunching tackle that left Demon Rhi Watt concussed last Saturday.
The 22-year-old Heslop is facing at least three weeks on the sidelines after being referred directly to the Tribunal – with fears her 2023 season will be over unless she can overturn the hefty sanction.
Mullins has also opted to fight her one-match ban for a stray off-the -ball elbow in that same clash with Melbourne.
Swans book AFLW finals spot | 03:38
Follow our coverage live from 6pm AEDT.
Kate Darby – one-match ban for rough conduct. Graded careless conduct, medium impact and high contact
Geelong mum-of-one Kate Darby says she had no other option than to make the contact with Hawk Jasmine Fleming that’s resulted in a one-match ban.
Darby was cited for rough conduct but opted to fight her ban to play in the Cats’ do-or-die elimination final this weekend.
The forward/ruck says it was “physically impossible” for her to avoid the collision with Fleming.
“My intent was to tackle her,” she told the Tribunal on Wednesday night.
“As we get quite close to one another, Jas changes direction … This movement was made at the last split second.
“I couldn’t change where I was moving.
“The only thing I could do when she did turn was brace to my left side, knowing we’d make contact with each other.
“Apart from bracing, I feel there was nothing I could reasonably do in the circumstances.
“When she did move, I didn’t move towards her – my arm stays in.
“It was very last minute.
“I thought she was going to be running past (in front), towards the corridor.
“It was surprise because she did something unexpected to me. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do much about it.
“After she’s come off her left foot… I could see her direction had changed and we were going to make contact. I couldn’t physically make my body move quick enough.
“In my readiness to tackle, she was going to be in front of me. My arms were in the right spot. I didn’t physically have the ability to turn my body and move my feet.
“I was trying to change direction but it was physically impossible.
“I just had to brace.”
When asked directly if Darby accepted she collected Fleming high, the Cat replied: “ I don’t believe where I hit her was high”.
The medical report, supplied by Hawthorn, showed Fleming suffered only a bruise in the clash, did not need to leave the field and did not require any medical attention at the time or in the following days.
The hearing continues.
Dee Heslop – referred direct to tribunal and facing three-plus week ban for rough conduct. Graded careless conduct, severe impact and high contact
Charlotte Mullins – one-match ban for striking. Graded intentional conduct, low impact and high contact
