Source :- THE AGE NEWS
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- A West Coast player went to ground in obvious pain after a gut punch from a Richmond opponent.
- Surgery for Swan after suffering a sickening lower leg injury.
Tiger in the gun for behind-the-play blow
Marc McGowan
Richmond defender Luke Trainor faces a stint on the sidelines after delivering a behind-the-play gut punch to West Coast’s Jack Williams in the second quarter of the clubs’ clash at the MCG on Sunday.
The two players were hanging onto each other before Trainor wound up and struck the Eagle with a clenched left fist.
The second-year Tiger, playing his 30th career game, instantly jogged away while Williams went to ground in obvious pain and went to the bench soon after.
It is the type of incident the AFL aimed to stamp out when it announced tribunal changes in February, revealing that incidents where a player strikes another in the chest or stomach were more likely to be graded medium impact and result in at least a one-game suspension.
Match review officer Michael Christian has typically graded these incidents as low impact, which led to fines rather than bans. Trainor’s gut punch was also an intentional action.
Richmond have a lengthy injury list that includes key defensive options Noah Balta, Josh Gibcus and Campbell Gray, so losing Trainor would present the Tigers with more challenges down back.
Adem Yze’s men have taken advantage of West Coast’s errant goalkicking to lead by 15 points at half-time, 7.4 (46) to 3.13 (31).
The Eagles are trying to beat Richmond at the MCG for the first time since 2015.
Surgery for ‘devastated’ Swan after leg injury
Peter Ryan
Sydney Swans defender Will Edwards had surgery on Sunday after suffering a sickening lower leg injury against the Saints on Saturday.
Edwards appeared to dislocate his ankle and was carted from the field having received pain medication during the Swans’ 19-point win at Marvel Stadium.
Coach Dean Cox described the injury as “devastating” for the 23-year-old, who made his debut this season following a series of leg fractures and infections.
The club is expected to provide more information about the injury and his prognosis after the operation. Midfielder James Rowbottom will also have surgery to repair a broken hand sustained during the match against St Kilda.
For the Saints, Jack Silvagni (dislocated shoulder) and Tom De Koning (hip pointer) are in doubt for next Sunday night’s match against their former team, Carlton.
