The AFL's Match Review Officer has handed down seven charges from Sunday's Round 17 action, with Sydney star and Brownlow Medal chance Isaac Heeney hit with a striking charge while Adelaide's Izak Rankine is set for a period out of action.
Heeney's strike on St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster in the third term of his team's game at Marvel Stadium has earned the scrutiny of the MRO, who graded the Swans player's actions as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, resulting in a one-game suspension.
Heeney and the Swans have decided to appeal the ban at the AFL Tribunal in a bid that could free the midfielder and keep his Brownlow Medal chances alive.
A failed challenge would mean Heeney is unavailable to face North Melbourne at the SCG this weekend, with a return scheduled for Round 19 against Brisbane.
Sydney and their star midfielder will front the Tribunal on Tuesday evening at 6:30pm (AEST).
Meanwhile, Rankine has been suspended for four matches for his off-ball bump on Brisbane's Brandon Starcevich.
Starcevich failed his HIA following the collision, which was initiated from Rankine who decided to bump his opponent away from play.
The incident has seen the MRO charge Rankine with rough conduct, with gradings of intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact resulting in the suspension.
Adelaide have chosen to challenge the charge, and will front the Tribunal on Tuesday evening following Heeney's case to argue the forward's intentions were careless rather than intentional.
Crows Head of Football Adam Kelly said a remorseful Rankine would enter a guilty plea.
โWhile Izak had no intention of making head high contact that resulted in the injury, it obviously did occur and that is not being contested,โ Adelaide football boss Adam Kelly said in a club statement.
โWe believe however that a careless grading is more befitting of the incident.โ
Izak Rankine will appear at the AFL Tribunal tonight.
Adelaide accepts Rankineโs conduct against Brandon Starcevich constitutes rough conduct however, the Club will argue his actions were careless rather than intentional.
— Adelaide Crows (@Adelaide_FC) July 9, 2024
Rankine and the Crows are scheduled to face St Kilda, Essendon, Hawthorn and Geelong in their next four matches before facing the Western Bulldogs.
Elsewhere, Elliot Yeo ($1250, careless contact with an umpire), Mason Wood ($2500, tripping), Ben Keays ($1875, careless contact with an umpire), Rory Laird ($1250, careless contact with an umpire) and Mark Keane ($5000, tripping) can each accept fines with early guilty pleas.
