Carlton’s hopes of remaining inside the top eight have been dealt a major blow with skipper Patrick Cripps handed a two-match ban for a high hit in the Blues’ loss to the Lions on Sunday.
Cripps’ hit on Brisbane’s Callum Ah Chee occurred in the second quarter as the pair chased a ball that was mid-air, with Ah Chee suffering a concussion as a result of the clash.
The AFL’s match review officer deemed Cripps’ hit to be careless conduct with high contact and high impact, resulting in a two match ban being offered.
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It remains to be seen whether Carlton opts to challenge the MRO’s verdict at the tribunal on Tuesday.
If Carlton coach Michael Voss’ staunch defence of Cripps’ actions are anything to go by, a trip to the tribunal seems a formality for the Blues skipper.
“The umpire probably told the story; he didn’t pay a free kick, did he? So clearly he felt the arms were out and it was evenly contested,” Voss said after Sunday’s 33-point loss that left the Blues in seventh spot on the ladder.
“Clearly, when you have not a lot of time to adjust in those circumstances, it made for a difficult contest. It was one I’m sure will get looked at.
“But from what I’ve seen, the arms were outstretched, it was a pretty even contest, and there’s microseconds in it. If we’re asking players to make decisions in microseconds, I don’t think the game enables that.
“I don’t think he [Cripps] is there to cradle a person to the ground, is he? It was unfortunate, we hope he’s OK, clearly we have empathy on that side of things,” Voss said.
“But we’ve also got to respect that the game’s going to be evenly contested, and that looked like an even contest to me.”
If Carlton opts not to challenge the MRO’s verdict, Cripps will miss the remainder of the home and away season with potential must-win clashes against Melbourne and Collingwood on deck for the Blues.
Carlton has until 11am on Tuesday to decide whether it will challenge the decision at the tribunal.
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