Tyrone Vickery referred directly to the AFL tribunal for hit on Eagles champ Dean Cox by: Staff writers
From: AAP July 28, 2014 3:55PM 7
THE AFL tribunal will decide the fate of Richmond big man Tyrone Vickery after the match review panel ruled his hit on Dean Cox was too severe for a routine penalty.
Vickery, who is facing a lengthy ban, will face the tribunal on Tuesday night.
The match review panel opted to refer the incident rather than issue a penalty under its standard points criteria.
The MRP ruled Vickery’s hit was intentional, severe impact and high contact — the highest possible grading. Under AFL rules the case must then be sent straight to the tribunal and he cannot receive a discount for an early guilty plea.
The MRP also assessed Cox’s elbow to Vickery which may have prompted the retaliatory strike, and deemed the force too low for a report.
But Eagles Luke Shuey and Mark LeCras were each fined $900 for misconduct in bumping Vickery off the ball in the mad minutes following the felling of Cox at a boundary throw-in.
In other cases, Tiger Brandon Ellis’s match-day report for rough conduct against Patrick McGinnity was thrown out, and Magpie Clinton Young was also cleared over a hit on Adelaide defender Brodie Smith.
Swans defender Jeremy Laidler can accept a reprimand for striking Hawk Jack Gunston.
Earlier, Cox admitted he’s not the “best of mates” with Ty Vickery, but is grateful to receive an apology from the Richmond big man.
Vickery is facing a lengthy AFL suspension after hitting Cox in the jaw with a crude roundhouse blow during Richmond’s 17-point win on Friday night.
Cox, who was knocked out, has little memory of the game — and none of the incident itself.
The retiring Eagle didn’t suffer any structural damage but remains in doubt for Saturday’s away clash with Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Vickery publicly apologised to Cox on Sunday and he also gave the Eagles legend a phone call to express his remorse over the incident.
“He tried to ring me a few times,” Cox told Perth radio station 6PR on Monday.
“Obviously. it was a number I didn’t know, so I didn’t answer.
“But he kept trying, so I answered and it was Ty.
“He just wanted to personally apologise for the incident and make sure that my family was aware of that as well.
“It was good of him to actually ring and pass on his apology.
“I’ve been involved in footy for a long period of time and realise things can happen that people don’t want to or don’t expect to happen.
“It was good to get the call from him. I wouldn’t say we’re best of mates though.”
AFL greats Matthew Lloyd, Tony Shaw and Michael Voss were all critical of Vickery’s actions while current players Taylor Walker and Brisbane’s Pearce Hanley also expressed their distaste.
Cox said there had been no bad blood between him and Vickery leading into Friday’s game.
“I haven’t had too much to do with him over my career,” Cox said of Vickery, who copped a two-match ban earlier this year for striking North Melbourne’s Michael Firrito.
“He didn’t mention anything about why the incident happened. And I can’t remember anything of it.”
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/tyrone-vickery-referred-directly-to-the-afl-tribunal-for-hit-on-eagles-champ-dean-cox/story-fni5faul-1227004436829
