Giant’s hit sent direct to tribunal
GIANTS star Jeremy Cameron will front the AFL Tribunal for his intentional ugly hit that left Brisbane’s Harris Andrews with bleeding on the brain.
The young Lion’s immediate playing future is in doubt after Brisbane yesterday revealed that Andrews had suffered a severe concussion and a “small bleed on his brain” in the incident – a result that league match review officer Michael Christian confirmed had factored in his finding.
Andrews, 21, had initially received four stitches in his chin following the elbow to the head, but was readmitted to hospital on Saturday night after his condition worsened.
The promising defender was discharged on Sunday night and will be reassessed by a neurosurgeon in two weeks before any call is made on his ability to return to playing.
“Our discussions with the neurosurgeon have been encouraging as they expect Harris to make a full recovery,” Lions football boss David Noble said.
“He will have a follow-up scan in two weeks’ time, when we will know more.”
Cameron was last night referred directly to a hearing tonight, with Christian grading the strike as intentional, severe impact and to the head.
He intends to travel to Melbourne rather than front the tribunal via video link.
Christian said that Andrews’ immediate and current condition, “as well as the visual look of the incident”, with Cameron raising his elbow, had been taken into account when grading the impact. He said he viewed the forward’s raised elbow as indicative of his intention.
Classifiable offences that are graded as intentional and severe impact are deemed worthy of a sanction of three or more weeks and are as such referred directly to the tribunal, where the panel can deliver whatever penalty it sees fit.
But Christian refused to be drawn on how many weeks penalty would be appropriate for Cameron to receive.
Cameron, 25, on Saturday described the incident as “unfortunate” and said he had “definitely not” wanted to hurt his opponent.
“I just saw the ball coming in and I like to play the ball really hard,” he told Fox Footy post-game. “It was unfortunate I hit him in the head.”
It is Cameron’s 11th match review charge since 2012.
Any suspension would be a huge blow to the Giants ahead of a crunch month against Hawthorn, West Coast, Richmond and Port Adelaide as they fight for a top-eight spot.