Saints King, Stocker cleared by AFL MRO

Shayne Hope | June 24, 2023

St Kilda pair Max King and Liam Stocker have avoided suspension after they were reported during their AFL club’s defeat to Brisbane.

Key forward King was booked for striking Lions defender Ryan Lester during the second quarter of the Saints’ 28-point loss on Friday night.

King’s late spoil glanced Lester not long after the Saints star had conceded a 50m penalty for shoving Charlie Cameron to the ground.

Stocker was reported for rough conduct over what the officiating umpire deemed a dangerous tackle on Eric Hipwood during the second quarter.

Both reports were thrown out by the match review officer (MRO) on Saturday.

The AFL clarified the decisions in a statement, declaring there was “negligible” high contact made by King on Lester.

“It was the view of the MRO that there was insufficient force to constitute a reportable offence,” the league statement said.

Stocker’s report was dismissed because Hipwood’s head did not hit the ground in the tackle.

“It was the view of the MRO that the tackle did not constitute a reportable offence including because no high contact occurred,” the league statement said.

The decisions mean King and Stocker are both free to play when the Saints take on West Coast at Optus Stadium in round 16.

Earlier in round 15, Geelong star Tom Stewart was fined $1500 for making unnecessary contact with an injured player.

Stewart shoved Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney to the ground while he was nursing a sore shoulder during Thursday night’s match at GMHBA Stadium.

The match review officer found Melbourne’s Bayley Fritsch had no further case to answer over a dangerous tackle on Jake Kolodjashnij, which resulted in a free kick to the Geelong defender.

Kolodjashnij was not seriously hurt in the incident and got up immediately to take his free kick.