Carlton forward Harry McKay will face the Tribunal after he was suspended for striking.
McKay caught North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel high in the fourth quarter of the Blues’ 23-point win at Marvel Stadium on Friday which resulted in a one-match ban from MRO Michael Christian.
McKay’s actions were graded as careless, medium impact and high contact which led to the suspension which has sparked plenty of debate.
WHY CORNES EXPECTS KEY BLUE TO HAVE STRIKING BAN DOWNGRADED
Harry McKay has been offered a one-match suspension for striking Harry Sheezel. pic.twitter.com/DTyccmHRIp
— AFL (@AFL) April 8, 2023
AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich is another who believes the Coleman Medallist will have his ban rescinded when he fronts the Tribunal.
UPDATE: the Club will contest the striking charge at the AFL Tribunal tonight. https://t.co/sUV58Qzwc7
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) April 10, 2023
“We’ve seen players get off for this,” Gabelich said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“It’s one that I’m really interested in to see what happens because it was in the moment.
“I don’t think there was too much malice in it. Yes, it was graded as careless, medium (impact), high contact which is a one-match suspension when you go through the matrix.
“But we have to wait and see exactly where it sits in the end because I don’t know if there was much malice in it.”
It prompted a discussion between V/AFL greats Brad Johnson and Gerard Healy who had differing views of the McKay incident.
Johnson is of the belief that it was a “non-football act” that didn’t look great while Healy felt it was devoid of malice and aggression which could work in his favour.
Johnson: “We don’t run round with our elbows up do we?”
Healy: “No, but it was forearm. He was pushing him away, wasn’t he?”
Johnson: “He was trying to bumper bar, we get it.”
Healy: “I reckon he gets it downgraded to low.
“I don’t see the potential for serious injury. The force was minimal.”
Johnson: “That’s where the debate rages because it was a non-football act.
“I understand why the decision (has been made).”
Healy: “Well, that’s his (the MRO’s) definition. He was pushing him off, it was just too high.”
Johnson: “He’s raised his elbows to push off.
“We can have the argument in regards to what it looked like. I didn’t think it looked great in terms of that he had other options that he could have gone with.”
Healy: “He certainly had other options, he could have pushed him away.”
Johnson: “Raising his arms. You put yourself in that position then that’s the reality of what can come.”
Healy: “I might have to have another look at this one. I didn’t see it as an aggressive move.”
Carlton responded to the charge on Tuesday morning and will contest McKay’s suspension.
The second-placed Blues next play Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval in the first match of Gather Round on Thursday night.
Should Harry McKay's one-week suspension stand?
— Sportsday (@SENSportsday) April 10, 2023
Gerard Healy and Brad Johnson pull no punches debating the issue. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sD5bjTT7cV