Tiger Rance cops two-match AFL ban

Richmond’s Alex Rance is facing a two-match AFL ban for his crude hit on Melbourne forward Jack Watts.

The AFL match review panel reviewed the first eight matches of the round on Monday and laid 28 charges, with Rance and Port Adelaide’s Jackson Trengove the only players facing suspension.

North Melbourne’s Ben Cunnington attracted some criticism after he appeared to drop his knees into Gary Ablett’s back during the Roos’ win over Gold Coast – he can accept a $1000 fine for rough conduct with an early plea.

Rance dropped his forearm into the back of Watts’ head late in the Tigers’ 33-point loss to the Demons at the MCG.

The MRP charged him with striking, classifying the incident as intentional conduct with medium impact to the head, that draws a three-match sanction.

But he can miss two games – against Port Adelaide and Hawthorn – if he enters an early guilty plea.

Melbourne onballer Jack Viney remonstrated strongly with Rance following the incident but was cleared of any wrongdoing.

The incident provided a fiery end to an at-times spiteful contest that boiled over into a melee at quarter time.

Nine players in total – Christian Salem, Lynden Dunn, Jayden Hunt and Viney from Melbourne and Tigers Jake Batchelor, Ty Vickery, Daniel Rioli, Sam Lloyd and Kamdyn McIntosh – can accept fines for their part in the scuffle.

Demons skipper Nathan Jones can accept a $1500 fine for wrestling Anthony Miles and Tom Bugg can accept a $1000 fine for pushing over Jack Riewoldt as he hobbled to the bench with an ankle injury.

Trengove was charged with striking Geelong skipper Joel Selwood at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. His two-match suspension can be reduced to one with an early guilty plea.

Selwood was scrutinised for his hit on Trengove in the spiteful encounter but the force was assessed to be insufficient to require a report.

Port’s Tom Jonas was adjudged to have been making a legitimate attempt to mark the ball when he made contact with Patrick Dangerfield in a contest and escaped sanction for the incident that was a precursor to a quarter-time melee.

Thirteen players – six from Port and seven Cats – can accept fines for their part in the incident.

Robbie Gray can accept a $1500 fine for engaging in rough conduct against Geelong defender Tom Ruggles.

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