Gold Coast will challenge the two-match ban handed to young gun Bailey Humphrey for rough conduct.
The 21-year-old forward was charged over a sling tackle on Richmond’s Maurice Rioli during the Suns’ comfortable 68-point win on Saturday.
The AFL match review officer graded the incident as careless conduct, high impact and high contact.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick was quick to defend his player, telling reporters post-match that Humphrey should not have faced any sanction.
“No, I wouldn’t have thought so. It should have been holding the ball,” Hardwick said.
As it stands, Humphrey is set to miss the Suns’ clashes with Melbourne and Sydney after the bye in round three.
The Demons were one of several Victorian clubs interested in recruiting Humphrey when he explored his options for a trade to his home state last year.
Humphrey met with Melbourne coach Steven King but Gold Coast held the player to his contract, which runs until the end of 2028.
Already without Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell (finger), the Suns have lost gun recruit Christian Petracca (hamstring) for the Dees clash and will be desperate to clear Humphrey at the tribunal.
One thing in Humphrey’s favour in the hearing will be the fact Rioli was not seriously hurt in the sling tackle.
“He was fine. He played out the game … and he was one of our better contributors in the last quarter,” Tigers coach Adem Yze said post match.
AAP
By
