AFL 2024: Injuries & Suspensions

MRO offers verdict on Brisbane veteran, Fremantle breakout star

Two players have learned their fate.

Published by
Scott Pryde

The AFL's match review officer has confirmed that Fremantle Dockers' breakout star Blake Acres, who also suffered an injury on Saturday, will only be hit with a fine for a bump on Changkuoth Jiath, while Charlie Cameron has escaped sanction.

Acres had multiple problems to worry about coming out of Saturday afternoon's clash with the Hawthorn Hawks, which Fremantle were able to win.

A bump on Changkuoth Jiath during the third quarter however has been ruled to be Intentional Conduct, Low Impact, Body Contact however by the AFL's match review officer, allowing the 26-year-old, who made his AFL debut with St Kilda before being traded to Fremantle in 2020, to escape with a fine of $2000 should he accept the early guilty plea.

He also suffered a hamstring injury during the game, being subbed out of the contest midway through the final quarter, having racked up 24 disposals.

Acres has suffered hamstring injuries previously, missing the first five games of 2020, however, coach Justin Longmuir told reporters at his post-game press conference that early signs were positive.

“I was just talking to him in the rooms and he doesn’t think it’s overly serious,” Longmuir said.

“He’s disappointed, as all players are when they get injured. But fingers crossed it’s not too high on the serious scale.

“He feels like it’s not a big one but as with these things you’ve got to wait for them cool off and get scanned.”

Meanwhile, the match review officer has elected not to charge Brisbane forward Charlie Cameron for contact made against St Kilda defender Daniel McKenzie during the club's 21-point victory on Saturday evening at the Gabba.

In summarising the incident, the MRO had the following statement, confirming no further action would be taken.

"The incident involving the Brisbane Lions' Charlie Cameron and St Kilda's Daniel McKenzie from the third quarter of Saturday night's match was assessed. The ball is kicked to a leading Cameron in the Brisbane Lions' forward 50. McKenzie approaches the marking contest from the opposite direction and contact is made. It is the view of the MRO that Cameron's actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken."

Both Fremantle and Brisbane have byes next week, and should Acres be fit to play in a fortnight, it means both players will be fit to play, with Brisbane to play the Melbourne Demons in a Thursday night blockbuster, while Fremantle take on Carlton on Saturday.

Published by
Scott Pryde