Richmond defender Ben Miller escapes suspension despite kneeing Fremantle Dockers forward Jye Amiss’ head

Richmond defender Ben Miller has avoided suspension for kneeing Fremantle forward Jye Amiss in an ugly incident that caught the ire of Dockers coach Justin Longmuir.

Longmuir was furious that his young spearhead was “manhandled” in the club’s 54-point win over the Tigers at the MCG on Sunday.

In an off-the-ball incident in the final seconds of the game, Amiss was flung to the ground by Miller, who dropped a knee into his neck.

The 20-year-old was paid a free kick and converted the set shot from the top of the goal square.

Miller was offered a $3750 fine by the AFL’s match review officer, which can be reduced to $2500 with an early plea. The act was graded as careless conduct with low impact and high contact.

Fremantle players remonstrated with Miller, causing a scuffle that has resulted in five players from both sides receiving fines for engaging in a melee.

Second-gamer Cooper Simpson will be forced to fork out at least $1250 each if he accepts an early plea, with the same penalty handed down to veteran Dockers duo Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters and Tigers pair Nathan Broad and Dylan Grimes.

It comes after Longmuir revealed his concern for Amiss, who was playing in his first game back from concussion.

“I’ve got big concerns with the way he’s been treated all year,” Longmuir said.

“We’ve gone to the umpires asking for a bit more protection for Jye. He had a concussion a couple of weeks ago against West Coast, missed last week with that concussion and some of the treatment he got behind the ball... I understand defenders need to block runs but that incident late is not ideal.

“I feel like he has been manhandled at times throughout the year. We need to look after those type of players. Opposition defenders see that he’s a little bit lighter framed and he’s young. The only way they can stop him is to get him in those wrestles and sometimes take it across the line.

“In those situations, the umpires need to interpret those situations and stop it because defenders will keep getting away with what they’re allowed to get away with. We will continue that with the AFL. We need to look after him. I am concerned at times he is going to get injured.”