RICHMOND midfielder Reece Conca is clear to play in Round 1 if he accepts a three-week ban for his high hit on Kangaroo Leigh Adams.
Under new rules that allow players to serve suspensions for incidents in the NAB Cup during the pre-season, Conca can serve all three weeks of his suspension then line up against Carlton in the first round of the home-and-away season.
After the rules were clarified by the AFL, the Tigers don't even have to make the NAB Cup final - a highly unlikely prospect after they lost to the Roos in their first game - to take advantage of the new loophole.
Conca will sit out Richmond's next to NAB Cup fixtures, against Fremantle and Geelong, and a yet-to-be scheduled practice match on the same weekend as the NAB Cup final.
The game will technically count as part of the NAB Cup - and Conca's ban - because it will affect placings on the NAB Cup ladder used to determine prizemoney in the pre-season competition.
The match review panel today assessed Conca's contact with Adams as reckless conduct, high impact and high contact.
But it ruled the midfielder had intended to bump or block his opponent, not make high contact, and said his intent was reckless, not intentional.
Adams was subbed out of the game but the Roos said he could have played against Hawthorn in their second game on Friday night.
Conca will risk a four-match ban if he challenges the MRP ruling.
Under previous rules, players suspended in the pre-season had to serve their time from the start of the premiership season. Last year North Melbourne's Drew Petrie, and Carlton's Michael Jamison (two games) and David Ellard all missed the start of the season proper after being suspended during the pre-season.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson confirmed yesterday the rule change also applies for the eight practice games in the final weekend of the pre-season series, and the NAB Cup final.
"NAB Cup suspensions can be served in the NAB Cup, including the final round which determines placings and prizemoney," Anderson told The Australian.
The AFL pays prizemoney down to eighth. The winner of the NAB Cup final receives $198,000, while the runner-up collects $132,000. Third- and fourth-placed clubs receive $88,000, with fifth to eighth collecting $44,000.
In other match review panel verdicts, North Melbourne's Lindsay Thomas was offered a reprimand with 60 carry-over points for striking Conca, and Fremantle's Josh Mellington and Essendon's Leroy Jetta have been been fined $900 for wrestling.
In the hun
