Mansell cops ban for elbow on Pie

RICHMOND defender Rhyan Mansell has been handed a one-week suspension after elbowing Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan in the head during a late skirmish in the Tigers’ victory over the Pies.

Mansell (pictured) dived over a pack to ensure Ginnivan didn’t win the ball, but appeared to elbow Ginnivan multiple times in the back of the head.

A low-impact intentional strike to the head is a oneweek suspension and Mansell clearly made contact with enough force for it to be considered a reportable offence rather than a misconduct fine.

He would likely have lost his spot in the Richmond side anyway, given the Tigers can recall star defender Nick Vlastuin and midfielder Dion Prestia against Hawthorn next Saturday.

Coach Damien Hardwick said the pair were automatic selections next week as the Tigers attempt to move to 5-4 and a positive win-loss ratio for the first time this year.

GWS forward Jesse Hogan dodged a suspension from the MRO despite a forearm fend that concussed Jed Bews in the Giants’ loss to the Cats.

Hogan picked the ball up and almost instantly confronted Bews and fended him off in an action that saw his opponent subbed out of the Cats win.

The match review officer decided that while high contact was made by Hogan on Bews, it was a football act as he instantly confronted a player after picking up the ball and tried to escape a tackle.

The AFL said on Sunday night: “It was the view of the Match Review Officer that Hogan’s actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken”.

GWS forward Toby Greene was suspended for a strike on Patrick Dangrefield last year that saw him fend off with his elbow, but he was seen to have had more time to consider his action.