Wests left without a defence in Moreland ban

GEELONG West Giants coach Andy Viola has called for an urgent review of the MRP system after star Chris Moreland was outed for two matches.

West reluctantly accepted a set penalty handed to Moreland, who punched Newtown & Chilwell’s Matthew McMa- hon in the stomach last Saturday.

But Viola was “filthy” the club was unable to fight the charge on the basis of provocation.

“It’s super stiff,” Viola said of Moreland’s ban.

“We’re not saying he’s not guilty, he punched Matty McMahon, but there was provocation. He was offered two weeks and we have to take it.

“There’s no flexibility in the outcome. We have to prove that he’s not guilty or he gets an extension on his penalty and obviously we couldn’t do that.

“I know Matt personally and I like him, and we don’t want to be blowing the whistle on him, but there’s a definite case of provocation there.

“It was an intentional strike, and we weren’t going to argue the guilty plea, but our argument was do we have grounds to appeal on provocation?”

Footage of the incident obtained by the Geelong Advertiser clearly shows Moreland and McMahon involved in a brief fracas.

McMahon angrily drags a Geelong West player out of a pack before Moreland intervenes.

McMahon lands a left punch to the head of Moreland, who retaliates by striking McMahon to the midsection.

The Eagle falls to his knees in pain and teammate Rob Condy comes into remonstrate.

It led to an investigation and Moreland was subsequently charged and found guilty by the MRP.

“It’s a massive out for us but we have to rise above it,” Viola said.

“He only played a quarter and a bit in the midfield because he copped another hit to the ribs and our trainer’s thought he might have had a fractured rib.

“He (Moreland) said he was OK, so we pushed him forward. He’s ended up in hospital, and he was cleared of any damage, but he probably wouldn’t have played this week anyway.”