Gold Coast's Sam Clohesy can expect scrutiny over his tackle on GWS winger Ryan Angwin during Sunday's win at People First Stadium.
In the second term, Clohesy pinned one of Angwin's arms in a tackle, before driving him into the ground, resulting in the Giant's head bouncing off the ground.
Working against the speedy Sun is that Angwin was ruled out of the match - and the next 12 days - with concussion, meaning the impact could be set at high by the Match Review Officer (MRO).
The contact was clearly high, while conduct could be deemed careless, constituting a one-match ban.
Ryan Angwin has been ruled out of the match with concussion after this incident involving Sam Clohesy.#AFLSunsGiants pic.twitter.com/4MR7t7itmk
— AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2026
Clohesy did release one arm for Angwin to use to protect himself, which in the eyes of the MRO, could be seen favourably in understanding what a 'reasonable player' would do in that situation.
Earlier on Sunday, Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy will be lucky to avoid any punishment for his off-the-ball hit on Melbourne's Latrelle Pickett.
After a Demons goal, Grundy throw out an elbow, which came in contact with Pickett's mid-riff. The young forward went down, clutching at his stomach and was immediately attended to by club medicos. Pickett played out the game.
Given that the MRO won't deem the contact as high impact, the Swans veteran is set to receive a fine at most given the ball wasn't in play, and in the MRO's view, isn't necessary.
"In order for this to be a suspension it has to be high impact and even though Pickett went down, he didn't go off the ground ... I can't imagine Brodie Grundy missing any games for that."
🗣️ Tom Morris on Brodie Grundy's contact with Latrelle Pickett pic.twitter.com/nFHytlOTXF
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 3, 2026
The MRO and the AFL have come down harder on off-ball strikes, with those nowhere near the contest or play more often than not constituting suspensions.
