Brisbane will risk a two-match suspension for Jonathan Brown as they try to make their talisman available for Friday night’s AFL clash with Collingwood.
The Lions’ co-captain could have accepted a one-week ban with an early guilty plea after being reported for striking Carlton fullback Michael Jamison during last Saturday’s loss at the Gabba.
The penalty will be increased to two games if Brown is unsuccessful in his challenge at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday evening, ruling him out of the games against the Magpies and Fremantle.
But Lions coach Michael Voss feels it’s a gamble worth taking.
“We’ll contest it,” Voss told reporters on Tuesday.
“We think it’s worthwhile enough to have a bit of a look at and ask the question.”
Voss appeared not to be too hopeful of a successful outcome however, saying he would continue to prepare for the clash against the Magpies as though Brown was unavailable.
“It’d be great to have him, that’d be a bonus,” he said.
“That’s the way we’re looking at it. We’re planning without him for the moment. If it works out we’ve got him, then that’s a bit of a bonus. If not, then we move on with our original plans.”
North Melbourne midfielder Jack Ziebell has accepted a three-match ban for his bump on Adelaide’s Jarrod Lyons.
Ziebell would normally have been able to escape with a one-game ban for the rough conduct charge.
But a 50 per cent loading due to his bad record and extra carry-over points meant the initial suspension went up to four matches, which could only be cut to three with an early guilty plea.
Ziebell will miss the Kangaroos’ upcoming matches against St Kilda, Gold Coast and Fremantle either side of the mid-season bye.
It is a savage blow for North Melbourne (3-6 win-loss record), who have lost four matches by less than a goal this season and are in danger of slipping out of finals contention.
Richmond onballer Shane Edwards has been fined $1950 for pushing Essendon’s Dyson Heppell into the path of the umpire during Saturday night’s match at the MCG.
Speaking in Brisbane, Voss revealed the Lions would be without ruckman Matthew Leuenberger for up to six weeks as he battled a dislocated thumb.
Second-year big man Billy Lower is his likely replacement.
“It’s like-for-like for us,” said Voss.
“Leuey’s been playing predominantly 80-90 per cent in the ruck and that’s probably what we’ll ask Billy to do at the same time.”
Ziebell would normally have been able to escape with a one-game ban for the rough conduct charge.
But a 50 per cent loading due to his bad record and extra carry-over points meant the initial suspension went up to four matches, which could only be cut to three with an early guilty plea.
Ziebell will miss the Kangaroos’ upcoming matches against St Kilda, Gold Coast and Fremantle either side of the mid-season bye.
It is a savage blow for North Melbourne (3-6 win-loss record), who have lost four matches by less than a goal this season and are in danger of slipping out of finals contention.
Richmond onballer Shane Edwards has been fined $1950 for pushing Essendon’s Dyson Heppell into the path of the umpire during Saturday night’s match at the MCG.