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AFL's MRO to rule on Martin, Vardy bumps

3 minute read

Gold Coast midfielder Jack Martin plus West Coast's Willie Rioli and Nathan Vardy are among AFL players sweating on verdicts from the match review officer.

Willie Rioli
Willie Rioli Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Gut punches have dominated match-review discussions for much of the first half of the AFL season but, on Monday, the bump will occupy plenty of Michael Christian's time.

Gold Coast midfielder Jack Martin and West Coast ruckman Nathan Vardy are among the players sweating on match review officer Christian's assessment of round 12.

Martin was reported after collecting Jack Ziebell with a bump on Saturday at Metricon Stadium, when North Melbourne's captain passed a concussion test and was allowed to return after halftime.

Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall suggested he would be "horrified" if Martin was suspended, noting on Fox Footy that he collected the ball first and turned side on.

Not booked for his bump on Jackson Thurlow, Vardy is expected to come under scrutiny, especially given the Sydney defender played no part in the second half of Sunday's contest at the SCG.

Eagles forward Willie Rioli is also at risk of missing his team's next clash, a round-14 meeting with Essendon at home, because of a sling tackle that had knocked out Irishman Colin O'Riordan.

Rioli's teammate Lewis Jetta copped a one-game suspension after round nine, having slung Melbourne's Tim Smith to the ground in similar fashion.

"We lost a player this year through a similar incident, so we just have to work our way through that," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said after Sunday's 45-point loss.

"Has he been reported? Let's wait until that happens, if that happens.

"It's a difficult one to interpret. Difficult one to execute sometimes - when you've got players around the waist or their arms are free, and you know they're going to handball.

"A bit of that is method. A bit of it is just the situation you're in and you have to think your way through it."

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