ANALYSIS: Inconclusive vision set to clear Dustyafl.com.au
17 July 2017A LACK of conclusive vision should prevent the Match Review Panel from guessing and handing Dustin Martin a suspension that would rule him out of 2017 Brownlow Medal calculations.
Martin is being scrutinised on Monday for making potentially high contact to opponent Nick Robertson in Sunday's clash against the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium with a swinging left arm.
The evidence in front of the panel includes inconclusive match-day vision, front-on photos that show contact to the neck with an open hand and, eventually, a medical report from the Lions.
Depending on the results of that medical report, it is certainly not enough to justify a one-match penalty.
It is not enough to justify suggestions that Martin made contact to Robertson's eye in a similar fashion to St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster two weeks ago. The two actions are not in the same ballpark.
The available vision from Sunday's match shows Martin approaching Robertson from behind and making potentially high contact, initially around the Lion's neck.
It is not possible to determine the exact point of impact, however, from the match-day vision understood to be available to the MRP.
There are also photos that show Martin with an open hand around the point of impact on Robertson's neck, but whether his hand had slid higher is unclear.
Those photos – which are favourable to Martin – should be crucial in the MRP's decision, given the lack of video evidence.
If the MRP decides Martin has made high contact, it has only two options – to suspend him for one match or to throw the case out because there was insufficient force.
There is no room for the leading Brownlow Medal contender to be fined if contact is high, given the likely grading of intentional conduct for an off-the-ball swing of the arm.
The Tigers should be confident their superstar midfielder will be cleared on Monday afternoon because of insufficient force.
Robertson's reaction in going to ground clutching at his face complicates the matter, but a Lions' medical report might still work in Martin's favour.
It is one of the few pieces of evidence the MRP will be able to treat with any certainty.
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-07-17/analysis-dusty-has-no-case-to-answer
