St Kilda forward Jack Higgins faces a nervous wait ahead of the release of the Match Review Officer’s findings due to a dangerous tackle on a Port Adelaide star.
Power defender Aliir Aliir picked up a loose ball inside St Kilda’s forward 50 during Friday night’s clash at Adelaide Oval before being tackled by Higgins.
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While Aliir’s left arm clung to the ball, Higgins had his opponent’s right arm pinned as he tackled him to the ground. Crucially, both of Aliir’s feet left the ground before his head made contact with the turf.
A dangerous tackle free kick was paid against Higgins.
Aliir took some time to get to his feet but eventually took the free kick. However the All-Australian soon afterwards came to the bench for assessment before ultimately being subbed out of the game at half-time..
Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph said the incident would like be graded at least medium impact, which would see Higgins miss a week. The fact Aliit was subbed out could see the tackle graded as high impact, according to Ralph.
“Unfortunately for Jack Higgins, I think he’s in real strife with the MRO,” Ralph told Fox Footy.
“He clearly pins Aliir’s arm, he clearly takes him to ground with some force and then he dumps his head into the turf. He might say that Aliir tries to kick the ball, which contributes to the motion, but I think Michael Christian has very consistently suspended these ones – apart from Toby Greene on Mac Andrew in Gather Round.”
But four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis suggested Higgins would have a decent case to argue if he ultimately faced the tribunal.
“I feel for Higgins. If Aliir Aliir understands if he’s being tackled and doesn’t then try and kick the ball, well then there’s probably no case to answer for,” Lewis told Fox Footy.
“I think Aliir contributes 50 per cent of that force going to the ground by trying to dispose of the ball.”
Melbourne champion Garry Lyon added: “I think the fact his leg’s come off the ground to kick the ball adds to the momentum of him going down.”
But seven-time All-Australian Nathan Buckley stressed the duty of care is now on the tackler.
