Essendon’s Jye Caldwell is expected to be sanctioned by the MRO after his jab on Collingwood’s Nick Daicos on Tuesday.
The Bomber clearly punched the Anzac Day Medallist in the stomach with a closed fist during the third quarter of the Magpies’ come-from-behind win at the MCG.
While the blow did not impact Daicos, who continued to gallop freely around the ‘G and collect disposals at will, it did force him to go down in pain before he composed himself on his haunches.
Regardless of the outcome, Gerard Whateley is of the belief that the MRO must suspend Caldwell for his actions.
He asked Sam Edmund on SEN’s Whateley: “Suspension for Jye Caldwell, or fine?”
Edmund replied: “50/50 I reckon.
“Medium (impact) gets him a week, low (impact) gets him a fine.
“The MRO has been in that sort of a mood where you wouldn’t be surprised if they bumped it up to medium.
“It was a stop-play, so glaring, so obvious. Collingwood players remonstrated, Nick Daicos did stay down for a period of time.
“A flip of the coin for me.”
Whateley added: “Blatant punch.
“I don’t think you’re entitled to any benefit of the doubt on a category.
“I think you land with a week. It’s a terrible look. Don’t be swinging fists at any time.
“But I was wrong about Shai Bolton, keep that in mind.”
See the incident below:
"That might get him a week."
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 25, 2023
Jye Caldwell's hit on Nick Daicos ⬇️ #AFLPiesDons pic.twitter.com/7kKgpp69VN