Remorseful De Goey escapes with three-match AFL ban

Collingwood star Jordan De Goey has escaped with the minimal three-match ban for the brutal bump that concussed West Coast teen Elijah Hewett and sparked debate within the AFL neighborhood.

De Goey threw himself on the mercy of the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night time, pleading responsible to the tough conduct cost and telling the three-member jury how remorseful he was.

Opinion had been cut up as as to if De Goey ought to obtain a 3, 4 or five-week ban for the bump.

Eagles midfielder Dom Sheed went so far as saying De Goey must be rubbed out for one or two months, earlier than later apologising for that remark.

AFL counsel Andrew Woods pushed for a four-week suspension, saying the vicious nature of the hit and the very fact it precipitated a concussion meant it did not warrant the minimal three-week ban.

The three-person jury of chairman Jeff Gleeson, Jordan Bannister and Stewart Loewe deliberated for 27 minutes earlier than deciding on three weeks.

It means De Goey will miss matches towards Melbourne, Adelaide and Gold Coast earlier than returning for the round-17 conflict with the Western Bulldogs.

De Goey mentioned in proof he regretted the bump right away.

“I do not go on the market to play my footy in a grimy means,” he mentioned.

“To see somebody get injured like that’s disappointing. I wished to ensure his wellbeing was OK.

“Instantly after the sport I adopted up with (Eagles veteran) Shannon Hurn to ask if Elijah was on the bench so I may give him a verbal apology.

“Sadly he went all the way down to the rooms … so I proceeded to ship him an apology textual content message. He was appreciative of the message.”

Woods used Adelaide ahead Shane McAdam’s bump on GWS defender Jacob Wehr from earlier this 12 months as a part of his push for a four-match ban for De Goey.

McAdam acquired a three-match ban for that hit, however Woods identified it did not lead to a concussion.

“Right here (with De Goey) we’ve the same motion with a critical harm, being concussion,” Woods mentioned.

“The quantity of pressure deployed on Hewett – that places this at greater than that three-week entry degree sanction.

“The participant turns, flexes, raises his shoulder, positions his physique sideways, leaves the bottom briefly – all within the identify of accelerating impression.

” that footage, it may have concerned a damaged jaw or different damaged bones within the head. There was potential for much more harm.”

Stephen Russell, appearing on De Goey’s behalf, mentioned a three-week penalty could be truthful, citing the Magpie star’s regret and choice to plead responsible on the earliest likelihood.

He additionally mentioned De Goey’s bump was a split-second choice after Hewett had fired off a handball.

“The participant struck by McAdam (in that different instance) was standing nonetheless. On this incident, the main a part of the momentum is coming from Elijah,” Russell mentioned.

“Your alternative to even get out of the way in which is proscribed.

“He (De Goey) has chosen to offer a hip and shoulder. He is executed it incorrectly.