Demon ‘rocked’ by blow
J. Cameron (GWS) 4 L. Franklin (Sydney) 0 E. Betts (Adelaide) 1, J. Daniher (Essendon) 1 J. Kennedy (West Coast) 0, R. Gray (Pt Adel) 5, J. Riewoldt (Richmond) 3 T. Walker (Adelaide) 2 T. Hawkins (Geelong) 1, B. Brown (Nth Melb) 2 L. Brown (ankle). T. Taranto (shin). D. Beams (shoulder). L. Picken (knee) Z. Cordy (leg). J. Ziebell (shoulder). C. Salem (hamstring), J. Garlett (hamstring), J. Viney (shoulder). D. Lang (ankle), J. Selwood (concussion), T. Stewart (facial fracture). B. Hill (leg). J. Lamb (concussion), Ed Curnow (knee), Plowman (calf) (Melbourne). W. Schofield reported for striking C. Oliver Houli for striking Lamb (Carlton) in the first quarter
INJURIES: ADELAIDE: GWS GIANTS: BRISBANE LIONS: W BULLDOGS: NTH MELBOURNE: MELBOURNE: GEELONG: FREMANTLE: CARLTON: REPORTS: WEST COAST: RICHMOND:
CLAYTON Oliver says he is not a stager, adamant he was “rocked” by Will Schofield’s elbow to his jaw.
But the Melbourne midfielder’s testimony and requirement for a doctor’s assessment will impact Schofield’s chances of suspension.
Oliver was widely condemned for staging after what appeared to be a glancing blow saw him slowly fall to the ground and grab his chin.
But video replays show there was contact made to his chin, which means the AFL would not consider a staging warning.
Schofield was reported on the day, with the match review panel carefully considering medical reports when assessing force.
So in effect Oliver’s defence of his actions will provide evidence that could see Schofield suspended.
He is still likely to be cleared under insufficient force, but Oliver was adamant there was contact.
It came before Oliver was involved in a petty Twitter spat with former Test cricketer Damien Martin after his collapse was compared with a soccer diver.
“(The hit) probably doesn’t look that bad, but I just wasn’t ready for it,” second-year star Oliver said on Channel 7.
“I don’t want to look like, obviously, a faker or anything like that. It just sort of rocked me and I wasn’t ready for it. I just shook my head a little bit.”
“I got the doc to have a quick look (at halftime) — it was just a little bit sore. But it wasn’t anything too bad.”
The AFL refused to warn Richmond’s Alex Rance after he exaggerated contact against Lance Franklin last week.
Martin commented on a Channel Seven link to the incident, saying “Am I watching soccer”.
Oliver replied, posting a link to a shot of Martin’s poorly-timed dismissal in 1994 during a Test match in Sydney against South Africa.
“Hey Damien, you should just worry about that shot in 1994. #amiwatchingachoker,” he replied.
Former Port Adelaide tagger Kane Cornes savaged Jordan Lewis yesterday for his lack of discipline during the contest.
Lewis gave away a 50m penalty, remonstrated with the umpire then seemed to deliberately walk over the mark just 10m out and gave away a second 50m penalty.
“Melbourne didn’t recruit him to act like a spoiled child,” Cornes said. “They recruited him to win contested footy for big games. He has already broken Patrick Cripps’s jaw this year and missed three weeks. “That nearly cost them the game last night.’’