Richmond star Dustin Martin is the new AFL Brownlow Medal favourite after Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield was offered a one-match ban.
Dangerfield, the reigning Brownlow medallist, will become ineligible under the award’s rules if he accepts the ban or unsuccessfully takes the case to the tribunal.
The Cats have until 11am on Tuesday to decide whether to go to the tribunal, which would sit early in the evening.
Apart from Dangerfield’s Brownlow eligibility, the Cats risk a two-game ban if the tribunal challenge fails.
Second-placed Geelong have two massive home games, against resurgent Sydney (sixth) this Friday night and the week after against Richmond (fourth).
Immediately after the match review panel handed down its findings, TAB installed Martin as the new favourite at $1.18.
Hawthorn onballer Tom Mitchell is second favourite at $5.50.
Dangerfield was narrowly ahead of Martin in the Brownlow betting until the MRP charged the Cats star with rough conduct.
His tackle on Matthew Kreuzer during Geelong’s win on Saturday night left the Carlton ruckman concussed.
He pinned Kreuzer’s arms and dumped the ruckman head-first into the turf during the third quarter at Etihad Stadium.
It was rated careless conduct with medium impact to the head.
Kreuzer was ushered to the Carlton rooms and wasn’t sighted for the rest of the match as the Cats scored a regulation 65-point win.
No player has won successive Brownlows since St Kilda legend Robert Harvey in 1997-98.
Dangerfield said he wasn’t aware of the furore surrounding the tackle until he was shown the footage after the game.
“I actually thought he still had the ball, so that’s why I’ve turned around and put my hands in the air,” Dangerfield told the Seven Network’s AFL Game Day.
“There was no umpire’s call at the time, so I don’t see an issue with it, but it’s not up to me.”
In other MRP news, four-time Hawthorn premiership star Luke Hodge received a one-match ban for striking Sydney’s Tom Papley in the second quarter of the Hawks’ upset win at the MCG.
He will miss Sunday’s clash against Richmond if he accepts the penalty.
Swans star Lance Franklin was handed a $1500 fine for making unnecessary contact with Hodge’s face.
Collingwood’s Taylor Adams also received a fine for rough conduct on Adelaide’s Rory Laird.
