Lachlan Keeffe

GWS tall handed suspension for strike on Carlton youngster in VFL

The veteran Giant is yet to appear at AFL level in 2024.

Published by
Mitch Keating

GWS veteran Lachie Keeffe has been handed a one-game suspension by the VFL's Match Review Panel for a strike on a Carlton youngster.

The incident in question took place in the third term of Saturday's game between the two sides at Blacktown International Sportspark, with Keeffe seen to have made intentional contact to the body of Blues youngster Jaxon Binns through a strike.

The league's MRP has graded Keeffe's actions as intentional conduct, low impact and body contact, with a one-game suspension offered to the 34-year-old.

Keeffe can enter an early guilty plea and have his suspension replaced with a $600 fine and reprimand. Should he elect to challenge the charge, Keeffe risks being unavailable for selection at both AFL and VFL levels in their next matches.

The Giants' senior side is scheduled to face Richmond at the MCG this Sunday, while their reserves have a bye before returning in Round 17 to take on the Gold Coast Suns.

The game against Carlton was Keeffe's 12th for the Giants' VFL side this year, with a return to Adam Kinsgley's squad yet to come for the former Collingwood tall in 2024 after a 14-game season and a role in the club's preliminary final finish last season.

A total of five further charges were handed down by the VFL MRP following Round 15, with Geelong's Ted Clohesy offered a charge for instigating a melee and another for making careless contact with an umpire in Sunday's loss to Box Hill.

Both charges can be reduced to reprimands from $300 fines with early guilty pleas.

The same goes for AFL-listed Box Hill midfielder Henry Hustwaite (careless contact with an umpire), while teammate Callum Porter and Cats defender Daniel Capiron can also walk away with reprimands for instigating a melee each.

Published by
Mitch Keating