Melbourne’s James Harmes will sweat on the Match Review after he laid a heavy front-on hit on Swan Jake Lloyd late in Friday night’s qualifying final.
As Lloyd bravely got under the footy, Harmes came in “a tad late”, according to commentator Matthew Richardson, and dropped the Swan with a heavy hit.
Players from both sides immediately came rushing in as Lloyd crashed to the MCG turf and Harmes was placed on report.
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“Oh no! Back with the flight, how are they going to see this?” commentator James Brayshaw said.
“It’s a report and a 50. That’s enormous!
“Will this lack of discipline cost Melbourne a big final?”
Lloyd was able to bounce up and kick the goal – the Swans’ third goal from a 50-metre penalty against the Demons.
It pushed the Swans’ lead out to a game-high 18 points with more than 15 minutes still to play in the final term.
Commentator Luke Hodge wasn’t sure what sort of penalty Harmes could expect for his heavy hit.
“It’s definitely going to be looked at. It’s not a great good look for the game, he didn’t get him high,” he said.
“It was as the ball came to him. They’ll have a look at it.
“It’s excellent from Lloyd, eyes on the ball.
“What I like from Sydney is they flew the flag for their teammate but they were disciplined, they didn’t give away a reversal of a free kick.”
