Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett is facing a lengthy suspension after his dangerous tackle on Ned McHenry forced the young Crow to be subbed out of Saturday night’s Showdown.
McHenry was wrapped up by Lycett before the Power big man appeared to dump the 179cm Crow into the Adelaide Oval turf.
McHenry was left dazed after his head hit the turf. He got up and tried to convince Crows medical staff he was fit enough to continue, before he came to the field.
Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >
The young midfielder was eventually subbed out of the game with concussion and replaced by medical sub Andrew McPherson. Consequently, he’ll miss Adelaide’s next game after entering the mandatory 12-day sideline period under the AFL’s concussion protocols.
“He’s no good, McHenry. He might be gone,” Crows legend Mark Ricciuto told Fox Footy.
“He is limp.”
A free kick was paid against Lycett, but the Fox Footy commentary team suggested he’ll have a bigger issue to deal with on Sunday when the Match Review Officer releases his findings.
Under the Match Review guidelines, Lycett’s tackle will be considered dangerous because it had excessive force — McHenry was concussed — and the young Crow was in a vulnerable position.
Careless, high contact and high impact for rough conduct would lead to a two-week ban. Severe impact, which is not out of the question, would see Lycett receive a minimum of three weeks and visit the tribunal.
Demons champion Garry Lyon predicted Lycett would likely be “having a couple of weeks or so off”.
“That’s one of the worse ones. That’s not one of the better ones I’ve seen from a sling tackle point of view,” Lyon told Fox Footy.
“I suspect when he looks at it, he’ll acknowledge that and know that he was caught up in the emotion of the game – which we all do at times – but he may have to pay a price.”
Lycett’s likely absence will give fellow ruckmen Peter Ladhams or Sam Hayes possible opportunities at senior level.
