Arabic version: إيلا هيدز تتلقى إيقافاً لثلاث مباريات في دوري كرة القدم الأسترالية للسيدات

According to ABC News, Port Adelaide defender Ella Heads has been suspended for three AFLW games after a high bump that fractured the jaw of Melbourne midfielder Eliza McNamara. The incident occurred during Melbourne’s 51-point win over Port Adelaide on Sunday.

McNamara had released a handball when Heads ran in and made front-on contact with her shoulder. McNamara was dazed and bleeding from the face before being assisted from the ground. The 24-year-old was taken to hospital, and Melbourne confirmed on Monday that she had surgery on her jaw. No timeline has been set for her return.

The incident was assessed as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, resulting in the three-match sanction. Former AFLW player Kate McCarthy described it as a “really poor challenge” and said it was “probably one of the worst bumps I’ve seen on the AFLW field” because it was late, high and careless.

The ban represents a quarter of the AFLW’s 12-round home-and-away season. Heads is set to miss Port Adelaide matches against Sydney, the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide unless the club can have the charge downgraded. In other tribunal decisions, West Coast’s Abbygail Bushby received a one-match ban over a collision with Brisbane’s Sophie Peters, while Richmond’s Montana McKinnon was suspended for one match for rough conduct involving St Kilda’s Jesse Tawhiao-Wardlaw.