“I’m fired up on this”: Why Carlton’s Boyd should not have been pinged for a free kick, let alone suspended

UPDATE

Carlton will appeal the one-match suspension handed down to Jordan Boyd.

EARLIER

Carlton’s Jordan Boyd should not have even been penalised for making head-high contact with Richmond’s Rhyan Mansell, let alone suspended.

That is the opinion of Kane Cornes who feels Tigers forward Mansell was in the wrong when ducking his head as Blues defender Boyd approached him tight on the boundary line at the MCG on Sunday.

Boyd has been handed a one-match suspension for the front-on contact in the 61-point win which was deemed by the MRO to be careless conduct, high contact and medium impact.

After receiving the free and then kicking the ball into attack, Mansell appeared fine as he and Boyd both acknowledged the hit, acting as if there was no malice. Tigers defender Jayden Short somewhat remonstrated with Boyd, but overall it didn’t feel like Richmond players were too perturbed with the actions of the Blue.

Cornes could not believe that Boyd was pinged for a free kick, saying the Blues must challenge the ban, and firmly believes that Mansell put himself in danger by ducking into the tackle.

“I’m fired up on this,” Cornes said on SEN’s Sportsday.

“What Mansell did was so dangerous. He is the one that put himself in this vulnerable position.

“Carlton should absolutely challenge that.

“He (Mansell) ducks into this tackle. We all know from when we were kids, do not duck into a tackle. If you duck it’s play on.

“I can’t believe it was even a free kick. He has ducked, he’s contributed to the contact. What Boyd has done is reasonable in the circumstances because he’s thinking he’s going to hit him in the chest.

“Mansell ducks straight into it. Fortunately nothing did happen and he’s ok, but we’ve seen incidents like that in rugby league and AFL before where there’s serious damage done to the neck.

“Boyd should not be suspended for that. It should have been play on and if anything we need to suspend players who are ducking their head into situations like this.”

While Mansell did clearly duck his head, it was a split-second decision as he opted to protect himself from an on-rushing Boyd.

Nevertheless, SEN’s Sam Edmund concurs with Cornes, while suggesting that the Blues are still yet to make a call on whether they will challenge the ban.

“I think no doubt Jordan Boyd is just trying to shove him over the (boundary) line and cause a stoppage,” said Edmund.

“It’s one thing for a free kick to be awarded because these are split-second things and you can almost forgive the umpire. But in the fullness of time to sit down with the MRO and say we’re still going to suspend the player when really you could send a pretty powerful message, which they have been sending to players who are willing to duck their head.

“To suspend him I thought was a surprise. Carlton won’t commit to it yet. They’ll make their determination on Tuesday.”

The Blues are sitting pretty in second spot on the ladder with a record of 11-4 ahead of this Saturday night’s clash with GWS at Engie Stadium.

When they last met GWS in a Round 6 win, Boyd spent much of the second half on Giants captain Toby Greene and kept the star fairly quiet.