Gerard Whateley believes Richmond star Tom Lynch will not be suspended for a shove to the back of the head of Brisbane’s Alex Witherden during his side’s 41-point win on Tuesday night.
Lynch tackled Witherden to the ground before shoving him with an open hand to the back of the head after the ball had left the area.
Fox Footy’s Tom Moris suggested Lynch would get a week with the incident graded intentional, low impact and high contact.
Discussing the incident with Sam Edmund on SEN, Whateley however doesn’t believe the action fits into the MRO’s table of reportable offences.
Whateley: “It’s a dud act, but it’s not actually a reportable offence. What would it be?”
Edmund: “Some people are saying it could be high contact, low impact and intentional.”
Whateley: “No, no, but it has to be something. I get the chart, but it has to be something to get into the chart. It’s not a strike.”
Edmund: “Could it be misconduct?”
Whateley: “Misconduct doesn’t go into the chart. That’s just a fine.”
Edmund: “So it’s going to be a fine at worst you think?”
Whateley: “It’s not a reportable offence. It’s a dud act, but that’s not reportable.”
Edmund: “It can’t be constituted as a strike, can it, it’s simply a push to the back of the head.”
Whateley: “It’s a miserable push to the back of the head, but it’s not a strike.”
Watch the incident below.
Should this incident involving Tom Lynch be looked at by the MRO?#AFLTigersLions
— SEN 1116 (@1116sen) August 4, 2020
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