Rioli cops week over O’Riordan sling tackle

THE match-day report of Gold Coast’s Jack Martin was thrown out by match review officer Michael Christian who slapped one game bans on a couple of West Coast Eagles.

Martin was reported after making heavy contact with North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell as he slid in to collect the ball during the Roos 26point win on Saturday.

Ziebell was forced to undergo a concussion test at halftime but was cleared to play on, and the incident.

Christian ruled that Martin was contesting the ball and had no realistic alternative to the contact.

“Ziebell and Martin approach the ball from opposing directions. Martin attempts to take possession of the ball, and in the process makes front-on contact to Ziebell,” an AFL statement said. “It was the view of the MRO that Martin was contesting the ball and had no realistic alternative.”

But while Martin was cleared of dangerous contact West Coast pair Willie Rioli and Nathan Vardy are each facing a week suspension following trangressions in Sunday’s loss to Sydney.

Rioli was banned for a second quarter sling tackle that left Swan Colin concussed and unable to return to the field.

Ruckman Vardy was rubbed out for taking out Sydney defender Jackson Thurlow, who also missed the second half of Sydney’s stirring victory, with a high bump.

Adelaide’s Paul Seedsman was also fined $1500 for kneeing GWS Nick Haynes.