Former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon believes Richmond’s Alex Rance is lucky to walk away with just a fine for his hit on Hawthorn’s Luke Breust.
The incident occurred late in the Tigers’ win over the Hawks on Sunday, with Rance arriving late to a marking contest. Match review officer Michael Christian deemed the hit as careless conduct with low impact to the head, which led to a $2,000 fine.
However, when compared to Josh Caddy’s suspension against Adelaide in Round 2, Lyon thinks the Richmond defender is fortunate to avoid a ban.
“I’m thinking Alex Rance is damn lucky today,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“He got a $2,000 fine, and his teammate Josh Caddy just missed a game for swatting at a ball that he missed and then he got David Mackay, who he knocked out.
“It was an open hand swat at the footy, and he missed the footy and got him, and because he was knocked out he got a week.
“Alex Rance’s was a pretty solid round arm spoil.”
Christian explained the decision yesterday.
"Yes (Rance) was late with his spoil, but he wasn't far away from the ball," he said.
"At the end of it all, to say that he intended to commit a reportable offence is stretching it too far."
The Tigers face Brisbane at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Alex Rance gave away a free kick in this contest.#AFLTigersHawks pic.twitter.com/NnSktqq46J
— AFL (@AFL) April 8, 2018