Tigers defender Rhyan Mansell could find himself in trouble with the match review panel for a “double forearm” to the back of Pies livewire Jack Ginnivan.
During Richmond’s 27-point win over Collingwood on Saturday, the Anzac Day medallist copped some flack from Tigers players as he raced towards three majors for the match.
Late in the third quarter as the Pies tried to conjure a last-ditch goal, Ginnivan bent over to pick the ball up before Mansell – who was playing in his game for the season – fell onto his back.
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Replays then showed Mansell pushing his forearm into the back of Ginnivan’s head twice – once as he landed on the Magpie and then as Ginnivan recovered on the turf.
It ignited a scrimmage after the siren as several Collingwood players, including Brody Mihocek, Brayden Maynard and John Noble, defended their young teammate.
“A double forearm to the back of the head,” Jason Dunstall said in commentary for Fox Footy.
“He’ll cop a fine or a week for that – probably a fine because it was low impact. But maybe there could be an option to pay a free kick after the siren.”
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With Collingwood players immediately appealing for a set shot for foul play, St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt added that the umpires’ hands were tied as the incident occurred after the siren sounded.
“We could hear the Collingwood players asking the umpires: ‘why is that not a free kick?’. And the umpire said: ‘it’s after the siren, we wish we could pay a free kick but we can’t,'” he said.
“Amazing scenes at three-quarter time. Clearly, you would expect if it was in general play, Mansell would’ve been done for two free kicks. But because it was after the siren, the umpires were powerless to do anything about it, other than potentially report the player.
“Mansell comes over the top with the one elbow, goes again a second time – which is pretty poor form.”
Dustin Martin returned for the Tigers after taking personal leave from the club ahead of round two.
The victory places Richmond back in the competition’s top eight.
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