Liam Ryan: West Coast forward escapes suspension for high bump on St Kilda’s Liam Stocker

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Liam Ryan: West Coast forward escapes suspension for high bump on St Kilda’s Liam Stocker

West Coast star Liam Ryan will be available for western derby 59 after the high-flying forward escaped suspended for a high bump on St Kilda’s Liam Stocker at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

Ryan has avoided a ban after the AFL deemed the Eagle “did not elect to bump and his actions were not unreasonable”.

It means the 27-year-old star will be available for the Eagles’ clash with arch-rivals Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

Ryan caught Stocker high with the bump as he ran past the Saints midfielder during the second term.

Stocker went into HIA protocols but was passed fit, escaping a concussion, and returned to the field to play out the game.

“Stocker takes possession of the ball and seeks to break away from the contest as the umpire blows the whistle. Ryan is running towards the middle of the ground and sees Stocker running into his path,” the AFL explained.

“Ryan veers away from Stocker to avoid him but Stocker stumbles and accelerates forward and downward into Ryan’s path.

“Ryan braces for contact and a collision ensues. It was the view of the MRO that Ryan did not elect to bump and his actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.”

The escaped suspension is a slice of luck for Ryan, who has been battling injury in the past 18 months with a serious hamstring injury in the pre-season delaying his start to 2024.

Ryan had seriously injured the other hamstring last year in the round three western derby which ended his season.

The Eagles are battling personnel injuries forcing them to field their youngest and least experienced side of the season against the Saints.

Star defender Jeremy McGovern has missed the past two games with a rib and lunch injury, while leading goalkicker Jake Waterman missed the Saints clash with a knee injury.

Co-captain Liam Duggan is also no certainty to take on the Dockers as he recovers from his second concussion this season.

Ruckman Matt Flynn is set to be available as he comes back from an ankle injury, but several Eagles players will come in off no game time with their WAFL side having the bye this weekend.

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