TheMase
Brownlow Medallist
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2001
- Posts
- 24,421
- Reaction score
- 31,147
- Location
- Sydney
- AFL Club
- Sydney
- Other Teams
- Sydney Swans
PROMISING Sydney teenager Lewis Roberts-Thomson was cleared of rough play tonight after the AFL tribunal ruled his contact with Western Bulldog Wayde Skipper was reasonable.
Roberts-Thomson was reported on video evidence by umpire Kieron Nicholls for a round 12 incident that left Skipper with a punctured lung and a broken rib.
The tribunal found the contact Roberts-Thomson made with his young opponent, who will be sidelined for up to six weeks, was "unfortunate" but fair.
Skipper was attempting to take an overhead mark during the second quarter of the match at the SCG when a running Roberts-Thomson attempted to spoil the ball.
The Bulldogs player told the tribunal he was unaware that Roberts-Thomson was approaching him from side-on.
Umpire Nicholls said he considered it to be an "innocuous" incident on the day, but after reviewing the video footage he believed Roberts-Thomson had no chance of marking or contesting the football.
Roberts-Thomson, a 19-year-old key position player who has played the last five senior matches for Sydney, is now free to take on Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.
Roberts-Thomson was reported on video evidence by umpire Kieron Nicholls for a round 12 incident that left Skipper with a punctured lung and a broken rib.
The tribunal found the contact Roberts-Thomson made with his young opponent, who will be sidelined for up to six weeks, was "unfortunate" but fair.
Skipper was attempting to take an overhead mark during the second quarter of the match at the SCG when a running Roberts-Thomson attempted to spoil the ball.
The Bulldogs player told the tribunal he was unaware that Roberts-Thomson was approaching him from side-on.
Umpire Nicholls said he considered it to be an "innocuous" incident on the day, but after reviewing the video footage he believed Roberts-Thomson had no chance of marking or contesting the football.
Roberts-Thomson, a 19-year-old key position player who has played the last five senior matches for Sydney, is now free to take on Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.