Hawthorn co-captain Jai Newcombe should receive a fine from the Match Review Officer (MRO) for his tackle on Western Bulldogs midfielder Ed Richards during Friday's practice match.
Newcombe pinned Richards' arm, leaving the Bulldogs gun in a vulnerable position. He also applied force in the tackle, however he showed minor restraint which could help sway the MRO.
The Hawks new skipper also won't be able to rely upon the fact that his opponent held onto the ball and didn't put his arm out to break the fall, given the onus is on the tackler.
Despite the look of the incident and Richards' reaction to the tackle, which are key factors in determining a punishment for the offence, working in Newcombe's favour is the fact that Richards continued playing the game, which should be reflected in the medical report.
The Bulldogs would've assessed Richards and cleared him of any concussion signs.
Is Jai Newcombe in hot water after this tackle on Ed Richards? 🤔#AFLDogsHawks pic.twitter.com/xwla5bBle7
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) February 27, 2026
The grading on the incident should be low impact, but if it were to be upgraded to medium, constituting a week suspension, Newcombe and the Hawks have a strong case to overturn the Tribunal.
Hawthorn face GWS next week in Opening Round to kickstart their 2026 season.
They will already miss on-baller Cam Mackenzie through concussion.
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