Dockers gun learns match review fate before finals
Anna Harrington |
Fremantle jet Caleb Serong is free to play in the Dockers’ first AFL final in three years after he was cleared of wrongdoing over his collision with Western Bulldogs forward Jordan Croft.
Both players attacked a loose ball on the ground during Sunday’s clash at Marvel Stadium and Dockers star Serong made high contact with Croft.
The inexperienced Bulldogs forward was left sore from the incident but got up quickly to take his free kick and played out the match.
Any suspension for Serong would have seemed harsh, especially given he appeared to reach the ball first, and the match review officer duly found Serong had no case to answer,
“The incident involving Fremantle’s Caleb Serong and Western Bulldogs’ Jordan Croft from the fourth quarter of Sunday’s match was assessed by the match review officer,” the AFL said in a statement.
“It was the view of the MRO that Serong genuinely contests the ball and it was reasonable for him to contest the ball in that way. No further action was taken.”
Dockers coach Justin Longmuir had noted post-match that Serong had discussed the matter with him.
“There can’t have been much in it,” Longmuir said.
“(Serong) said, ‘Do you think there’s anything in it?’
“I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘That bump on Croft’. That’s the exact conversation.”
Serong will lead Fremantle’s midfield in a home elimination final against either Hawthorn or Gold Coast.
Elsewhere, GWS star Finn Callaghan can accept a $1000 fine for striking St Kilda’s Marcus Windhager and another $1000 fine for “other misconduct” against Isaac Keeler.
Brisbane defender Darcy Wilmot was offered a $1000 fine for staging in the Lions’ win over Hawthorn.
West Coast will appeal Liam Baker’s one-match suspension for rough conduct in a bid to have him available for round one next year.
Baker’s high bump on Sydney star Chad Warner was graded as careless contact, medium impact and high contact.
AAP
