Adelaide defender Mitch Hinge has been handed a one-match suspension for striking Fremantle star Andrew Brayshaw in Friday night’s clash at Optus Stadium.
The incident, which occurred in the second quarter, saw Hinge collect Brayshaw high with what appeared to be a glancing uppercut. Brayshaw, although shaken, was able to take the free kick and play out the rest of the match.
The Match Review Officer assessed the strike as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, resulting in a one-game ban.
Brayshaw unfazed, delivers best-on-ground performance
The hit didn’t stop Brayshaw from turning in a standout performance, as the Dockers midfielder racked up 37 disposals, eight inside 50s and six clearances to claim the first-ever Arthur Leggett Medal.
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Commentating for Channel 7, journalist Mark Daniels noted: “This one’s from early in the game. It was Mitch Hinge on Andy Brayshaw. So it happened right in front of us, actually, on the boundary... As you can see, a little jab there. Brayshaw got a free kick, which was taken in the pocket, had a shot for goal and missed, but that’s an interesting one.”
AFL legend Nick Riewoldt was more pointed in his analysis: “It’s a strike, it’s a left uppercut... So he, he gets a week or he gets a fine.”
Despite the nature of the contact, Brayshaw not only played on but led Fremantle to victory, helping them break into the top eight and compounding Adelaide’s recent run of poor form.
Meanwhile, Crows teammate James Worrell escaped suspension but copped a $2000 fine (with an early plea) for a dangerous tackle on Fremantle’s Michael Frederick. That incident was graded as careless conduct, low impact and high contact.