Carlton will attempt to argue captain Patrick Cripps’ collision with Brisbane’s Callum Ah Chee was a football act, according to SEN Chief Reporter Sam Edmund.
The bump left the 24-year-old Lion convicted and will undoubtedly be cited by MRO Michael Christian.
Speaking following the side’s loss on Sunday afternoon, coach Michael Voss stated he “thought it was a good answer”.
“When you have not a lot of time to adjust in those circumstances, that made for a difficult contest, I’m sure one that will get looked at.
“From what I’ve seen the arms were outstretched and it was a pretty even contest and there’s micro-seconds in it, so if we are asking players to make micro-second decisions, I don’t know whether the game enables that, I really don’t.”
Edmund believes Cripps will receive a two-match ban, with the Blues almost certain to challenge it as their season hangs by a thread.
“It is certain that Cripps will be cited and it is certain that Carlton will fight it at the most important juncture of their season. They need their captain out there with all the injuries on top of it,” Edmund told SEN Breakfast.
“If you put it in the matrix, it’s careless, it’s high and it’s high – so it’s two weeks.
“The Blues from their part have jumped upon some still images that they believe prove Cripps had his eyes on the ball, his arms outstretched, he was clearly contesting the ball and it was reasonable for him to be contesting the ball.
“So it’s all or nothing. They’ll argue it’s a football action and an accident, or he gets the two weeks.
Crippa goes BANG 💥
Is Patty Cripps in trouble with this hit on Callum Ah Chee? pic.twitter.com/xWPrJkXAZh
— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 7, 2022
“The precedent here is Willie Rioli, but that was a marking contest too, so that was different. Matt Rowell actually played on as well.
“Collingwood failed to overturn Brayden Maynard, that was a two-match ban for striking Daniel Lloyd, Collingwood argued he was just trying to spoil the boil. Lachie Plowman last year, the Blues lost that on appeal, that was two weeks.
“These are all marking aerial contests and Carlton are going to argue it was a football act, unless they have a change of heart here.
“I think he’s going to get the two weeks.”
Cripps certain to be cited by MRO-Blues certain to fight at tribunal given finals are on the line.
Rules are clear when choosing to bump, but expect Blues to use this image to argue Cripps was contesting ball with eyes on ball, & that it was reasonable for him to contest this way pic.twitter.com/AaCiU8Wxya— Sam Edmund (@Sammy__Edmund) August 7, 2022
Carlton will be desperate to clear their captain, given midfielders George Hewett, Matt Kennedy and Ed Curnow are already sidelined.
Their depth will certainly be tested coming up against Melbourne’s on-ball unit of Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney and Angus Brayshaw.
Assuming the Western Bulldogs defeat GWS and Hawthorn, the Blues will likely need one more win to play finals, with the Dees and Pies to come.
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