North Melbourne defender Charlie Comben has avoided any suspension for the contentious incident with West Coast's Harley Reid.
On the three-quarter time siren, Comben was met by Reid who began celebrating teammate Elliot Yeo's goal. The Eagles wunderkind rushed to the Kangaroos defender, but was met by a forearm to the neck.
However, the Match Review Officer (MRO) didn't deem the incident as reportable, providing the following explanation:
"The match day report laid against North Melbourne's Charlie Comben for Striking against the West Coast Eagles' Harley Reid from the third quarter of Sunday's match was assessed by the Match Review Officer.
"Comben is standing the mark as Elliot Yeo has a shot at goal. Yeo kicks the goal after the three-quarter time siren and Reid initially runs toward Yeo before abruptly changing his direction and turning toward Comben.
"Comben, in a stationary position, moves his arms up at body height to protect himself from the oncoming Reid. As Reid approaches with speed, Reid lowers his body and high contact is made to Reid. It was the view of the MRO that Comben's actions did not constitute a strike. No further action was taken."
Charlie Comben and Harley Reid were involved in this incident.#AFLEaglesNorth pic.twitter.com/g4LX8dLlJA
— AFL (@AFL) March 22, 2026
Elsewhere, Sydney ruckman Peter Ladhams was also handed a two-match ban (one match for early guilty plea) for his rough conduct charge on Hawthorn's Calsher Dear in the VFL last week.
The Match Review graded the incident as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
Former Essendon midfielder Ben Hobbs was also punished for his strike in the state-league competition, copping a three-match suspension.
Hobbs hit Sandringham Zebras' Mitchell Ryan in the third term, which was graded as intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact. He can accept a two-game suspension.
