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Collingwood enforcer Brayden Maynard has been cleared for a controversial tackle on Carlton’s Matthew Owies, but teammate Lachie Schultz has been rubbed out by the match review officer.
Maynard came under scrutiny for what the umpire on the night deemed to be a dangerous tackle on Owies, whose head hit the ground, but MRO Michael Christian ruled the Magpie defender had no case to answer.
Matthew Owies of the Blues is awarded a free kick for a dangerous tackle against Brayden Maynard of the Magpies.Credit: AFL Photos
The league offered an explanation as to why Maynard was cleared, a move it did not make after clearing Greater Western Sydney star Toby Greene for a similar tackle against Gold Coast.
Christian found that Owies had contributed to the downward force, and that Maynard had not acted unreasonably in laying such a tackle.
Not hurt in the incident, Owies took his free kick, which he converted for a goal, and played out the match.
“Maynard applied the tackle from behind on Owies who both leans forward in the tackle and raises his right arm, leading to Maynard falling with and on top of Owies,” the AFL said.
“It was the view of the MRO that Maynard did not sling, drive or rotate Owies into the ground with excessive force, and accordingly the MRO did not consider that Maynard’s actions were unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.“
Maynard appeared incredulous to be penalised.
“What? He jumped forward,” Maynard was heard saying to the umpire.
Richmond great Matthew Richardson backed up Maynard’s view on Seven’s telecast.
“You can hear the Collingwood players say ‘he dived forward’ – I reckon he’s got a bit of a case,” Richardson said.
“I think he (Owies) was reasonably happy to go forward there … he knows he might’ve been able to draw one (a free kick there).“
Schultz is set to miss the Pies’ clash with West Coast on Sunday after being suspended for his punch from behind to former teammate Blake Acres. The hit was assessed as intentional with high contact and low impact.
Schultz’s brain fade took place metres away from an umpire, who gave Acres a free kick.
Midfielders Scott Pendlebury and Adam Cerra can both accept $1250 fines for making careless contact with an umpire.
