Star Cat unlikely to face ban for backhanding Giants tagger off the ball

num. Despite widespread outrage, there has been no crackdown on strikes to the body.

Christian will likely hand Dangerfield a $3000 sanction ($2000 for an early plea) for a hit that he could deem as low force, intentional and to the body.

Only a medium-impact strike to the body could see the Cat miss the traditional Easter Monday clash.

The second incident occurred when de Boer was doubled over and Dangersu sustain a report. He could receive a misconduct fine for that second act or even face an attempting-to-strike c charge.

But attempting to strike is not a reportable offence and dealt with through the AFL’s financial sanctions.

Coach Chris Scott downplayed the incident yesterday. “There was an umpire there and it wasn’t even a free kick. So let’s just deal with the facts — it wasn’t a free kick,” Scott he said.

“There might have been some contact to the body. These days you might try to milk a free kick if you cop a push. That’s the way it’s been umpired. But if there’s not much in it, you jump back to your feet and play on, which seems to me to be the facts.”

Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel, now a Giants board member, said yesterday de Boer played within the rules, despite Richmond coach Damien Hardwick’s criticism of him.