Bomber pulls in speccy; now a three-week spell is on the cardsTHE euphoria that Essendon utility Nathan Lovett-Murray felt after his side's win over Richmond in the AFL's centrepiece match, the Dreamtime at the 'G, on Saturday night, would now be tempered with the prospect of a three-week spell on the sidelines.
Lovett-Murray, among his side's best and close to becoming the first Aboriginal player to win the game's Yiooken medal, is also in contention for mark of the year after a raking in a speccy when he climbed high over an opponent in the Bombers' 40-point win. But he was later cited by the AFL's match review panel with a level-three rough conduct charge after a head-high shirtfront on Richmond's Kane Pettifer in the final quarter.
The panel has offered Lovett-Murray a four-game ban that could be reduced to three matches with a guilty plea. His priors means his points tally is now 455, which equals a four-game ban.
Lovett-Murray wasn't the only Aboriginal player attracting attention from the MRP during Indigenous Round. Geelong's Mathew Stokes will miss Sunday's match, ironically against the Bombers, unless he can convince the tribunal of his innocence of a striking charge.
The Northern Territorian was charged with striking Western Bulldog Liam Picken during Friday night's thriller, but he cannot reduce his sanction to less than a game due to his poor record. Stokes has missed five games in the past three years due to suspension. His tally is now at 187.50 points. A guilty plea will only reduces his points to 140.64.
A report against Essendon's Courtenay Dempsey, for rough conduct against Pettifer was thrown out. Team-mate Paddy Ryder, meanwhile, has again shown his class with another contender for mark of the year. The Yamaji man flew high to take a spectacular pack mark in Saturday night's match.
View Ryder's and Lovett-Murray's mark of the year nominations here:
Mark of the Year.
The dual nominations are two of several such nominations for the AFL's Mark/Goal of the Year award for Indigenous players.
Mark of the Year
Round 9
Nathan Lovett-Murray (Essendon)Climbed high taking a spectacular pack mark
Patrick Ryder (Essendon)Yet another big leap and great mark
Round 7
Patrick Ryder (Essendon)
Big leap and spectacular mark over Sam Mitchell
Round 2
Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)Spectacular leap over two opponents
Goal of the Year nominations
Round 7
Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)Spoil, side-step then kicked a great goal
Round 6Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)Followed-up and kicked a brilliant snap
Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)Prodigious goal from 55 metres late in the game
Round 4
Andrew Lovett (Essendon)Kicked truly on the run from centre bounce
Round 3
Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)Baulked two opponents then goaled
Round 2
Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide)Evaded 3 opposition players before snapping a goal
Hayden out for two monthsIT started out as a celebration of one of football's finest rebounding defenders but has ended with Roger Hayden facing a two-month stint in rehabilitation.
The Docker backman, playing his 100th AFL match on Saturday, against North Melbourne, fractured a bone in his leg requiring surgery. It was first thought Hayden had injured his calf but post-match scans revealed otherwise.
"Roger fractured the fibula in his leg and had a plate inserted during surgery today," Fremantle's general manager of football operations Chris Bond said. "It was not until after Roger had scans on his leg and seen an orthopaedic surgeon yesterday that the full extent of the injury was able to be determined."
It is yet another personal blow for Hayden who has overcome several serious injuries in his career, notably a broken leg in 2004.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Last Modified on 27/05/2009 22:52