The MRO has delivered a sanction to Adelaide Crows midfielder Ben Keays following Sunday's AFL action, while Hawthorn ruckman Lloyd Meek has escaped citation.
Crows midfielder Keays was cited for forcibly removing Collingwood ruckman Mason Cox's prescription playing glasses during a mini-melee in the final quarter of the Magpies' victory over Adelaide at the MCG, fined $1,500 for misconduct, with that amount able to be reduced to $1,000 with an early plea.
Cox brings it back to a one point game and lets the Crows know about it ๐
It's on at the MCG!
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๐ข MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/g4tAU60nFb pic.twitter.com/vi2diUwOWu— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 25, 2023
Many expected Keays' punishment to be merely a fine after relevant precedents were set in recent times, with James Sicily's removal of Aaron Naughton's headband last year and Patrick Cripps' pulling of Bailey Smith's hair in Round 9 each resulting in misconduct fines.
The favourable result means Keays is free to play in Adelaide's Round 16 clash with North Melbourne this Saturday afternoon.
Meek, meantime, is free to play this upcoming weekend against Carlton after some expected an incident on Sunday evening against the Gold Coast Suns to be cited.
Meek was thrown into the spotlight after he succumbed to a bumping action as an oncoming Darcy Macpherson made for an awkward aerial contest in the opening quarter of action at Heritage Bank Stadium.
Will Meek be in trouble for this bump on McPherson?
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๐ข MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/sUF0jJQpvs pic.twitter.com/Y6ToMBji0F— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 25, 2023
Macpherson was able to play out the match and did not undergo a head injury assessment after the collision, however, the Suns defender did require on-field medical assistance for a suspected blow to the torso.
The MRO deemed Meek had no case to answer, with the majority of contact going to Macpherson's body, as opposed to his head.