Nathan Buckley admits he would like to see both Collingwood’s Taylor Adams and Essendon’s Zach Merrett cleared of their one-match suspensions for dangerous tackles.
Adams was banned by the MRO for his sling-like tackle on St Kilda’s Seb Ross on Sunday night while Merrett copped a similar length suspension for his tackling effort on Melbourne’s Tom Sparrow on Saturday.
Neither Ross or Sparrow were injured.
The Bombers have confirmed they will appeal Merrett’s ban while the Magpies have done the same with Adams as the two clubs prepare to do battle in Tuesday’s Anzac Day meeting at the MCG.
On the other side of the coin, GWS’ Tom Green copped a one-week ban for rough conduct for his sling tackle on Hawthorn’s Josh Ward which is expected to stand.
See the Green tackle below:
Tom Green has been offered a one-match suspension for this tackle on Josh Ward. pic.twitter.com/qObaOM52u6
— AFL (@AFL) April 17, 2023
While Buckley doesn’t expect either Adams or Merrett to get off due to the AFL’s stance on head trauma, he feels both are “grey area” incidents and would be open to seeing the bans rescinded.
“This is a super sensitive area because it is something the AFL is very attentive to in regards to the concussion protocols and the discussion around that,” the Collingwood great said on SEN’s Whateley.
“Neither of the players were injured in Seb Ross (in Adams’ case) or Tom Sparrow in Merrett’s case.
“Tom Green’s, I agree. One on one, the tackle was done and it was a clear second motion there, similar to Nathan Broad’s.
“I think the other two are arguable. I agree with your (Gerard Whateley’s) assertion that they’ll probably be upheld, but I would hope to see both of them overturned.”
Buckley was asked why he would like to see both Merrett and Adams get off.
Zach Merrett has been offered a one-match suspension for this tackle on Tom Sparrow. pic.twitter.com/jhrDk4JElY
— AFL (@AFL) April 16, 2023
“Merrett actually lands on himself before the player that he tackles actually goes to ground,” he replied.
“Merrett hits the turf first and Sparrow nearly landed on Merrett’s right shoulder before his right shoulder hits the ground.
Taylor Adams has been offered a one-match suspension for this tackle on Seb Ross. pic.twitter.com/uVB1Lil0IL
— AFL (@AFL) April 17, 2023
“I thought Taylor Adams came in, and I thought that Ross tries to explode or jump out of the tackle, which in some ways propels him forward. I don’t know how you prove that.
“I think they’re both grey area incidents that have been proven in recent times to have been upheld because of the absolute intense focus on head knocks and trauma.”
Both the Pies and Dons will be hoping they have their midfielders available for the mouthwatering second v third clash in Round 6 - the first time these two clubs have entered Anzac Day in the top four since 2000.