AFL legend Matthew Lloyd has called for the league to probe West Coast youngster Reuben Ginbey over a pre-season incident.
Ginbey was the defender marking Richmond‘s No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor when the latter was injured in a marking contest during the game on Monday.
Lalor, 18, collided with the marking player after arriving to the contest late.
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But vision shows Ginbey, 20, may have pushed his teen rival into the contest.
“Has to be looked at, that incident from Ginbey on Lalor,” Essendon icon Lloyd tweeted.
“Lalor in such a vulnerable position and the ball player needs to be protected. A form of tunneling.”
Lalor was attended to immediately by Richmond medical staff after the nasty collision, before walking from the field moments later.
”There is possibly a bad injury here with Lalor under the pack – that’s not what the Tigers want,” Fox Footy commentator Adam Papalia said.
“That’s heart-in-mouth stuff for Richmond fans.
“The biggest story here is that Sam Lalor has now gone off the field after that nasty collision in that marking contest.”
https://twitter.com/MatthewLloyd18/status/1891325916975972390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Lalor had already kicked multiple goals and looked to be every bit as good as his draft selection would suggest prior to his early exit from the field.
“That’s the last possible thing [anyone] wants – we’re hoping that’s not going to be a lot of time out of the game,” former Eagles player Will Schofield said.
According to a statement from the Tigers post-game, the 18-year-old had “a bit of a sore jaw” and will be monitored following the contest.
West Coast won the three-quarter match 62-26 as both teams ramp up preparations for the season proper, which starts next month.