Star West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern will miss Saturday night’s crunch clash with Brisbane at the Gabba after his one-match striking suspension was upheld by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday.
McGovern was cited by the Match Review Officer after his right hand collected Gold Coast player Alex Sexton in the face during a fracas in the third term of Saturday night’s loss to the Suns.
West Coast counsel, David Grace QC, challenged the MRO's finding, arguing the contact was ‘negligible’ rather than low impact.
The Eagles also disputed that McGovern’s action was an intentional strike, believing it was careless instead.
Gold Coast’s doctor revealed Sexton required no treatment after the incident, which was sparked by the Sun’s bump as McGovern had his head over the ball near the boundary line.
Giving evidence via video link from Royal Pines Resort, McGovern said his intention was to grab Sexton by the jumper after he was briefly floored by the bump.
McGovern also argued he did not have a clenched fist when he struck Sexton, that there were "a fair few hands flying around" when the strike happened and that his view of Sexton was blocked by teammate Jackson Nelson.
“My hand is cocked back to make contact with his chest and grab his jumper. There were a fair few hands flying around.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 16, 2020
McGovern says he did not have a closed fist during the incident.
AFL counsel, Jeff Gleeson QC, put it to McGovern that he deliberately punched Sexton, which the Eagles vice-captain denied.
After a hearing lasting more than an hour, the Tribunal jury took 25 minutes to deliberate before upholding McGovern's ban.
"Obviously, first of all, disappointed with the decision," McGovern said.
"My intention was never to punch Alex in the head, which was the way it got taken, and i'm sorry for that, to Alex, the footy club and the fans, sorry for letting us down.
"I accept the consequences. It doesn't look great and I made contact to his head.
"I'll support the boys and the club as much as I can."
