Arabic version: نيل يسعى لإلغاء إيقافه عن النهائي الكبير

According to ABC News, Brisbane Lions midfielder Lachie Neale challenged a one-match striking ban at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday, seeking clearance to play in Saturday’s grand final against Fremantle. The dual Brownlow medallist was charged over contact with Hawthorn’s Jack Ginnivan.

The AFL argued the incident was off the ball and not in play, characterising it as a clear swinging arm rather than a football act. AFL counsel Andrew Woods KC said Neale had time to decide what to do and made contact, while urging the Tribunal to assess the matter as it would in round one rather than focus on the approaching grand final.

Neale’s legal team disputed that the contact was a strike, arguing it was a bump or body-check. Adrian Anderson said any impact was negligible, noting Ginnivan got up and ran away and did not require treatment off the field. Neale said he had spoken with Ginnivan on Tuesday and that the Hawthorn player agreed with the characterisation of the contact, ABC News reported.

The Lions also submitted that exceptional and compelling circumstances should apply, citing Neale’s long career without suspensions and his two Brownlow medals. Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson KC noted there had been no case in which exceptional and compelling circumstances had been applied or upheld for an intentional act. During discussion of Neale’s record, Gleeson said the player was “pretty close” to a unicorn. After more than two hours of submissions, the Tribunal retired to deliberate.