SEN news-breaker Sam McClure has revealed some interesting details regarding Essendon defender Conor McKenna’s alleged biting incident with Tory Dickson of the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
With McKenna to head to the AFL Tribunal tomorrow night after his case was referred directly by match review officer Michael Christian, McClure says the Bomber is adamant he is completely innocent of the charge, and will therefore likely plead not guilty.
“Conor McKenna is of the opinion that he is completely and utterly innocent, and that he has never worn a mouthguard and that in the midst of the scuffle Dickson pushed his face onto him,” McClure told SEN’s KB and the Doc.
McClure says the incident is similar to one that occurred during a match between Fremantle and West Coast in August 2015, where Eagle Chris Masten was found guilty of biting Docker Nick Suban, receiving a two week suspension in his tribunal hearing.
The newshound expects a similar result tomorrow night, despite believing the act of biting to be serious and worthy of more time on the sidelines.
“Masten at the time pleaded not guilty, was found guilty but only handed a two week ban,” McClure said.
“He pleaded the same argument as McKenna will have tomorrow night, in that Suban was pushing his face onto him.”
McClure also says that while photos circulating of the marks on Dickson’s neck taken by the Bulldogs “don’t look particularly good," similar photos were also taken of Suban’s bite marks with no implication on Masten’s final penalty.
Dickson's teammate Caleb Daniel hopes the incident is dealt with fairly by the tribunal tomorrow night.
"You don’t really like to hear anything about biting in any sort of sport, let alone AFL," he told SEN's Time One with Sam McClure.
"It’s up to the tribunal so we will just have to wait and see what the tribunal come up with."