North Melbourne will fight one of the most contentious match review panel decisions in memory at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night as they try to free forward Lindsay Thomas.
The Kangaroos will risk a three-match ban for Thomas at the tribunal as they bid to unhook him from a rough conduct charge over an incident which left Sydney youngster Gary Rohan with a broken leg.
Thomas slid into Rohan during the weekend’s match at the SCG, and the Swans player’s lower leg snapped in the challenge.
But the match review panel’s ruling to ban Thomas has sparked spirited debate.
North hope the tribunal will ape the court of public opinion, which appears to overwhelmingly support the theory the forward has been harshly dealt with.
North refused to comment on the specifics of the case on Monday night.
But they signalled their decision to challenge Thomas’ ban in near-record time – 90 minutes after the panel ruling became public and well ahead of the Tuesday lunchtime deadline.
The panel deemed Thomas’ sliding motion into Rohan illegal, and labelled its impact severe.
Rohan will miss the rest of the season after the sickening leg break, and had surgery to insert a pin in his leg on Sunday night.
Swans coach John Longmire said the 20-year-old was resting as well as could be expected in hospital after his injury.
“Considering what he has been through, he is in really good spirits and even cracking a few jokes,” Longmire said.
Geelong’s Steve Johnson and St Kilda forward Justin Koschitzke face suspension for their clubs’ next matches after also falling foul of the match review panel.
Johnson faces a one-match ban for rough conduct over an incident involving Richmond’s Chris Newman in the Cats’ 10-point win.
He can also escape with a reprimand over a tripping charge, and would only serve a one-match ban on both counts should he plead guilty.
Koschitzke will miss his side’s clash with Melbourne this weekend should he plead guilty to striking ex-teammate Zac Dawson in the Saints’ loss to Fremantle and accept a one-match suspension.
Geelong ruckman Trent West and Sydney defender Ted Richards can accept reprimands – West for rough conduct and Richards for striking.
But Essendon midfielder Sam Lonergan escaped a penalty for the tackle which broke Carlton onballer Andrew Carrazzo’s shoulder.
Richmond’s Reece Conca was also cleared of high contact on Geelong’s Allen Christensen.
But GWS defender Chad Cornes and Adelaide’s Matthew Jaensch were fined for wrestling.
Cornes can accept an $1800 fine and Jaensch $900 if they make early guilty pleas.