Adelaide’s early season woes have continued, with midfielder Richard Douglas set to miss the Grand Final rematch against Richmond courtesy of the AFL’s match review officer.
Douglas has been offered a one match ban by Michael Christian for engaging in rough play against Essendon’s Zac Merrett in the season opening 12-point loss to the Bombers on Friday night.
The Crows have until 11am AEDT on Monday to decide if they will challenge the suspension.
The 30-year-old was always going to find it difficult once he elected to bump Merrett, who left the ground immediately and missed the rest of the match with concussion.
"Based on the match day report and speaking to umpire Rob O’Gorman, who laid the report, the available video evidence and a medical report from the Essendon Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with medium impact to the head. The incident was classified as a one-match sanction," the AFL said in a statement.
Speaking later on Saturday on 3AW, Christian said Douglas had time to get the ball, but by choosing instead to bump, it to be fair.
"Watching the vision at different speeds, it was clear there was contact to Merrett’s head which is careless contact," he said.
"It would have been play on if he contacted the body."
Christian added that while Merrett missed the rest of the match, the fact he was able to run from the ground after the clash meant it was graded as medium contact.
The injury-riddled Crows blew a 20-point lead at three-quarter time before being over-run by the Bombers.
They were missing five players from the Grand Final side last year still at the club - Brad Crouch, Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker, Riley Knight and Andy Otten – through injury, while Brodie Smith, Sam Gibson, and Alex Keath could also not be considered.
Essendon veteran Brendon Goddard can accept $1000 sanction for careless contact with umpire Ray Chamberlain.
There were no charges laid from the Richmond-Carlton game on Thursday night.
