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Failed bid: Carlisle’s two-match ban stands

St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle has apologised to Jack Riewoldt for his heavy strike which left the Richmond forward concussed and the Saints defender suspended for two matches.

Carlisle failed on Tuesday night in his bid to reduce his ban after appearing before the AFL Tribunal. He had been reported for striking Riewoldt in the first quarter of Saturday's clash at the MCG.

Jake Carlisle collects Jack Riewoldt at the MCG.

Photo: Wayne Ludbey

"Obviously, I am disappointed with the outcome. I spoke to Jack after the game and resolved everything. I am just disappointed I won't be able to play the next couple of games with the guys," Carlisle said.

Match review officer Michael Christian had graded the strike as careless, high impact and high contact but Carlisle and the Saints had argued the impact was medium. If successful, this would have cut the ban to one match.

However, tribunal chairman Ross Howie, alongside panel members Wayne Henwood, Richard Loveridge and Shane Wakelin, took only eight minutes to deliberate and uphold the ban.

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Already struggling on the field, the Saints will be without Carlisle for matches against league heavyweights West Coast in Perth and Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

Carlisle said the Saints would not appeal the decision.

AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson, QC, referenced the medical report by Richmond doctor Greg Hickey. He said Hickey had reported a concussion, that Riewoldt had not returned to the game, had required immediate assessment and had left the field immediately.

But, in what Carlisle's legal representative Dermot Dann, QC, later reiterated, Hickey said further "investigation" had not been required and ongoing treatment was not required. He added Riewoldt was not expected to miss training or any games.

Gleeson then called reporting umpire Rob O'Gorman to provide evidence. O'Gorman said he had witnessed Carlisle strike "forcefully to Mr Riewoldt's heading during the marking contest" and he had paid a high-tackle free kick and reported him immediately.

"I thought it was a forceful enough for a reportable offence," he said.

"I know the most striking impact was the sound I heard. It was quite a loud impact, of the arm, or the wrist I should say, hitting the head.

"It was very high, very forceful and automatically warranted that I would report for that contact."

Under questioning from Dann, O'Gorman agreed that at the point of impact, Carlisle had had an open hand and had hit with the inside of his forearm.

Dann didn't call direct evidence but presented submissions of previous incidents, three of which had been medium impact, although Howie later said these had provided only "limited" information.

In his closing submission, Gleeson had argued a dozen points as to why Carlisle had made high impact.

He claimed the speed at which Carlisle had attacked Riewoldt meant there would have been heavy force, and pointed to Carlisle having swung his arm "but it wasn't a full roundhouse by any measure".

Riewoldt hits the deck.

Photo: Wayne Ludbey

Gleeson said Carlisle and Riewoldt had been moving in opposite directions and this had not worked in Carlisle's favour. He said Carlisle had hit his opponent with a "hard part of the arm" and that he had hit him flush. He said Riewoldt had been unconscious before he hit the ground where he "collapses like rag doll".

The impact was such that he had been unable to take the free kick. When he had attempted to continue, he had had the wobbles and had to be supported by staff.

He said the umpire's claim that he had "still heard a slap of the arm on the head" despite the crowd noise at the MCG had meant it had been high impact.

Dann argued that injury could not be the "sole factor" in the case and that "we are not dealing with significant force". He said there was "movement" with Carlisle's arm "but not a roundhouse".

Dann said he accepted the medical report but argued there had been "significant factors", pointing to Hickey declaring there had been no need for further "investigation", nor ongoing treatment and that Riewoldt would not miss any matches. He argued it was not an intentional head-high strike and it did not fall within the guidelines of a "forceful round-arm contact".

He said contact had been made with the inside of the arm and Carlisle had had an open hand.

Jon Pierik

Jon Pierik is a sports writer with The Age, focusing primarily on AFL football, cricket and basketball. He has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.

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