Brownlow Medal fancy Isaac Heeney and Adelaide Crows star Izak Rankine sweat on MRO verdict
Sydney star Isaac Heeney’s Brownlow Medal hopes lie with the AFL’s match review officer while Adelaide’s Izak Rankine will also come under scrutiny for his bump gone wrong.
Michael Christian will deliver his verdict on Monday afternoon following the duo’s off-the-ball incidents in respective losses on Sunday.
Swans ace Heeney was the favourite to win the AFL’s best and fairest gong this season.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.But he could be wiped from contention after a fend of a stumbling Jimmy Webster caught the St Kilda defender in the face and drew blood from his nose.
Webster was on his haunches for a few seconds while Heeney was able to run clear, mark and goal before checking on his opponent.
High fends this season are deemed intentional, rather than careless, leading AFL Hall of Famer Leigh Matthews to tell Channel Nine, “you do the crime, you do the time”.
But Saints coach Ross Lyon did his best to vouch for the Swans star.
“He certainly didn’t mean to clock Webster, but he accidentally clips him in the head,” Lyon said.
“He’s a great player and certainly there was no intention.”
The Crows’ tight loss to Brisbane wasn’t the only sore point at the Gabba for coach Matthew Nicks, who was hesitant to weigh into the prospect of a Rankine suspension.
His goal-kicking midfielder left Lions defender Brandon Starcevich on the turf with an off-the-ball bump, Starcevich substituted out of the game when he failed his head injury assessment.
“I’ll have to leave that to the powers that be,” Nicks said.
“That’ll be (a suspension) challenge us, if that’s the case, but that disappointment will be an opportunity for whoever steps up and deserves it.
“We’ve got a few there putting their hand up saying, ‘I’m ready to play’.”
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan bit his tongue when asked about the incident that will see the West Australian miss at least the Lions’ trip to Perth to face West Coast next weekend.
“It’s really unfortunate when you lose a player in those sorts of circumstances, that early in a game,” the coach said.
“There’s a lot to talk about but I haven’t seen it, so I shouldn’t comment on it.
“But the judiciary will have a look at that, I’ve got no doubt – and judging by crowd reaction it can’t have been all that good.”
