Star Geelong defender Tom Stewart has been hit with a four-game ban for his bump on Richmond’s Dion Prestia on Saturday, which resulted in no facial fracture but a concussion.
Geelong pushed for a three-game suspension and the AFL argued for a four-match ban during a submissions period that lasted 45 minutes, before the tribunal’s decision wiped Stewart from clashes with North Melbourne, Melbourne, Carlton and Port Adelaide.
“The bump was late. (Prestia) was wide open, exposed and vulnerable,” said tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson in handing down the verdict.
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“Stewart had sufficient time to see Prestia had not taken possession.
“He ran past the ball and made a conscious, albeit split-second, decision to bump Prestia at speed.
“The degree of carelessness was high.
“He breached his duty of care by some margin.”
After the AFL’s match review officer had graded the incident as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, Stewart and counsel Ben Ihle directed attention to Sam Reid’s hit on Nat Fyfe in 2021, which received a two-match ban, and Patrick Dangerfield’s bump on Jake Kelly during the same season, which copped a three-game suspension.
The bump by Giants utility Reid was graded as careless, high impact and high contact, while the hit by Cats midfielder Dangerfield was assessed as careless, severe impact and high contact.
Geelong also argued that Stewart had “less than half a second” to react after Prestia tapped the footy, while reasoning that the bump was not pre-meditated, his feet didn’t leave the ground and his elbow was tucked.
Then came an argument centred on Stewart’s character, with Geelong saying the tribunal should consider the remorse and his good heart.
But the AFL’s case was sharp.
“The bump was delivered by Stewart at speed after he’d gone past the ball with Prestia unsuspecting and vulnerable to being injured,” said AFL counsel Nicholas Pane.
“The injury suffered by Prestia, concussion, is a serious injury in itself.
“It’s the very type of action which can cause serious injury.”
Pane also argued that players had a far greater understanding of concussion than they did at the time of Dangerfield’s bump on Kelly, before declaring there was no doubt Stewart had chosen to bump.
Stewart had to at least receive a three-game suspension because he’d been referred directly to the tribunal.
Stewart’s four-game ban is a blow to the second-placed Cats as they push for a top-four finish.
Geelong, Brisbane, Fremantle and Carlton are locked on 40 points, while Sydney and Collingwood are one win behind.
Reigning premiers Melbourne are leading the competition on 44 points.
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