‘Hard-done by’ Pearce heads to AFL tribunal over ban

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‘Hard-done by’ Pearce heads to AFL tribunal over ban

Alex Pearce continues to have strong support from his coach Justin Longmuir ahead of the AFL tribunal hearing that will rule on the Fremantle captain’s three-game suspension.

The hearing, set for Tuesday night, looms as another major test of the duty of care a player has to his opponent, and the ongoing issue of head-high contact in the game.

Pearce was given a three-game ban for rough conduct over his collision with Port Adelaide opponent Darcy Byrnes-Jones in the Dockers’ Saturday night home win.

Byrne-Jones was running with the flight of the ball when Pearce cannoned into him, and was soon subbed out of the game with concussion.

The incident was assessed as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

Longmuir said the grading of the charge meant one of two things at the tribunal.

“We either get him off or it stays at three,” he said.

Post-game, Longmuir did not think the incident even deserved a free kick. On Monday night, he remained adamant Pearce had done nothing wrong.

“His view is he’s hard-done by and he’s very disappointed with the result that got handed down,” Longmuir told Fox Footy’s AFL360.

“It’s a really difficult situation both players found themselves in. We ask our players to play the ball.

“I was so strong on it after the game because I didn’t think Alex turned and braced and bumped. Alex, if anything, left himself open on impact.”

While he has sympathy for Byrne-Jones and his injury, Longmuir said the incident was a “footy act”.

“I’m not sure there’s a lot a 200 centimetre guy, running at full pace thinking he’s going to take a chest mark in the wet, is able to do in that situation,” Longmuir said.

The Dockers will also look closely at whether Pearce made contact with Byrnes-Jones’ head.

“I think there’s a bit of whiplash and I also think his head hits the ground,” Longmuir said.

Also on Monday, Sydney captain Callum Mills was banned for one game on a rough conduct charge. The Swans will decide whether to go to the tribunal.

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