Saint Caminiti to face tribunal, Magpie Adams banned

Shayne Hope and Anna Harrington | April 17, 2023

St Kilda young gun Anthony Caminiti faces a lengthy ban after being referred to the AFL tribunal over an off-the-ball hit that left Collingwood’s Nathan Murphy concussed.

Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams could join Murphy, and banned Essendon skipper Zach Merrett, on the sidelines after receiving a one-match rough conduct suspension for a dangerous tackle on St Kilda’s Seb Ross.

The AFL is set to push for a suspension of at least four weeks for Caminiti after match review officer Michael Christian assessed the blow to Murphy as intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact.

The grading triggers an automatic tribunal hearing.

Vision shows Murphy forcefully pushing Caminiti in the chest during the final quarter and the Saints forward responding with a raised forearm that felled his opponent.

Murphy, who later had words with the Saints contingent on the boundary line, will miss Collingwood’s Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon as a result of his concussion.

Caminiti landed at St Kilda during the supplemental selection period and has played a key role in a makeshift forward-line over the opening five rounds.

But the 19-year-old’s impressive start is set to come to an end.

Adams’ tackle on Ross was considered careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, drawing a one-match ban.

GWS midfielder Tom Green was hit with a one-match suspension for rough conduct over his dangerous tackle on Hawthorn’s Josh Ward, which was assessed as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

Giants coach Adam Kingsley had been confident Green would be cleared.

“The tackle might have been right in front of me – I don’t think he’ll have anything to worry about,” he said.

Both Adams and Green can challenge their respective bans at the tribunal.

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield avoided any sanction for his studs-up action in a marking contest where he caught West Coast’s Reuben Ginbey with a high boot.

Merrett will front the tribunal after electing to challenge his one-match ban for rough conduct over a dangerous tackle on Melbourne’s Tom Sparrow.

The tackle was graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.

Merrett is desperate to play in the Bombers’ Anzac Day clash with Collingwood, which pits second on the ladder against third.

The incidents involving Adams, Green and Merrett were similar to those that resulted in Hawthorn midfielder Will Day (two matches) and Geelong forward Gary Rohan (one match) being suspended last week.