Latest news with #DarcyByrneJones
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
‘Game isn't dead': Freo skipper's ban overturned in AFL Tribunal stunner
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce has had his three-match ban overturned at the AFL Tribunal. The Dockers defender had been charged by the Match Review Officer for an ugly collision with Port Adelaide's Darcy Byrne-Jones late in Fremantle's win over the Power on the weekend. Pearce had eyes for the ball but braced for impact at the last minute as he made contact with Byrne-Jones in a heavy hit. Byrne-Jones lay on the turf and had to be helped from the field, taking no further part in the game. The incident was graded as careless and severe impact with high contact by the AFL's Match Review Officer, resulting in that three-week suspension. But Fremantle successfully challenged the suspension at the Tribunal on Tuesday and had the ban overturned, allowing Pearce to play in Saturday's game against the Gold Coast Suns. The AFL argued Pearce's conduct was unreasonable in the circumstances under the general rough conduct prohibition. Port Adelaide's medical report found Byrne-Jones was concussed and is expected to miss three days of training and one match, evening counting for the club's bye this weekend. Pearce said he had no choice but to impact the contest and to do otherwise would have been shirking contact. 'Yeah, it would not sit well with me if I was to pull out of that contest and not impact it,' Pearce said. 'I wouldn't be overly comfortable in the way that would look and the way my teammates would see that. Watch the Alex Pearce incident in the video above 'And, to be honest, the way that the broader football public would view me as a footballer if I was to slow momentum and pull out of that contest just because there was going to be impact between two players. 'I'm aware that there is going to be a collision between the two of us,' he said. 'At that point, I drop my (left) arm and brace for the impact … to limit the impact as much as possible. 'I thought I had made a play at the ball … it felt like it was just a collision in the marking contest. 'Given my role as a defender and role as captain of our club, I don't believe that in that situation again I would be able to make a different decision than go at that ball and at that contest 100 per cent and make a play at the ball,' he said. Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson said: 'Pearce's attempt to mark was entirely realistic. 'If not for Byrne-Jones entering the contest from the opposite direction, he would likely have taken the mark. 'We do not find that this was rough conduct.' Reacting to the news, West Coast premiership defender Will Schofield wrote on X: 'I actually can't believe it. Maybe the game isn't dead.' AFL Tribunal reasoning Byrne-Jones ran back with the flight of the ball. The kick was fairly high, and the players arrived at the ball in roughly opposite directions at almost precisely the same time. That last point is critical. Pearce's attempt to mark was entirely realistic. He had his arms out to attempt to take a chest mark, and if not for Byrne-Jones entering the contest from the opposite direction, would likely have taken the mark. Pearce said that he didn't deviate from his line to the ball and the vision supports that evidence. Pearce said that his eyes never left the ball until the last split second when he glanced down to Byrne-Jones and it was too late to pull out of the contest. The vision supports that evidence. Pearce said that he dropped his arms further at the last moment so as to attempt to minimise the harm to Byrne-Jones. The vision supports that evidence. It follows that we do not find that this was rough conduct. when all of the vision was closely examined and the evidence of Pearce was taken into account, it was clear that: A) he intended to mark the ball. B) He was a realistic chance to mark the ball C) His eyes never left the ball until it was too late D) He did what he could at the last minute to minimise impact to the oncoming player
ABC News
27-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
AFL tribunal overturns three-match ban on Fremantle captain Alex Pearce for rough conduct in game against Port Adelaide
Fremantle Dockers captain Alex Pearce has successfully challenged his three-game suspension for rough conduct at the AFL tribunal, leaving him free to play against Gold Coast on Saturday. Pearce successfully argued against the classification that his actions were careless when he collided with Port Adelaide player Darcy Byrne-Jones in Saturday night's 49-point victory at Perth stadium, while not challenging the classifications of severe impact and high contact. The key defender's evidence played a key role in the tribunal hearing, with Fremantle's argument focused on claiming his actions were reasonable in the circumstances, as he was making a realistic attempt to either mark or intercept the ball. Through defence lawyer Tim Hammond, the Dockers argued that Pearce took the only practical response in the circumstances by trying to impact the contest, suggesting to do otherwise would be against the spirit of the game. Pearce stressed he was making a genuine attempt to complete a chest mark, as he often does in matches played in wet conditions, with the Dockers pointing to a previous example within the same game of him taking a mark on his chest in defence. The captain argued he wouldn't and couldn't have done anything differently if he had his time again, because as an AFL player and the leader of the club, he had to give 100 per cent effort to make an attempt at the ball and impact the contest. He said he only realised in the final split-second moment that he wasn't going to mark the ball and braced and dropped his arms to limit the impact of the impending contact. Fremantle also argued Pearce's path directly for the ball never deviated, and his eyes remained focused on the ball, expecting he always had a reasonable prospect of intercepting or marking. AFL counsel Sally Flynn argued Pearce was always likely to be second to the contest and therefore should have slowed his momentum and pulled out of the marking contest, saying the Fremantle captain had a duty of care to know the location of other players on the field and the potential risks. She argued Pearce breached his duty of care by not slowing his momentum. Pearce refuted the suggestion he should have known he was going to be beaten to the ball, saying if he pulled out it would not sit well with him, the team or the wider football public. After about half-an-hour of deliberating, the tribunal cleared Pearce, saying the action did not constitute rough conduct.
News.com.au
25-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Doesn't seem right': Fremantle captain Alex Pearce's ugly collision sparks AFL debate
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce is set to come under scrutiny from the AFL's Match Review Officer for an ugly collision in his side's win over Port Adelaide on Saturday. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter of Fremantle's 49-point victory when Pearce jumped off the ground and collected Power halfback Darcy Byrne-Jones in a heavy hit. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Byrne Jones lay on the turf at Optus Stadium before being helped from the field. He played no further part in the game. Fox Footy tribunal guru David Zita wrote on X: 'Prior to impact, Alex Pearce looks at Darcy Byrne-Jones, leaves the ground and braces for impact, not contesting the ball. 'No malice, but should be enough for a charge, which has to be at least three matches given outcome. Dockers would certainly challenge..' Damian Barrett told Nine's Sunday Footy Show: 'I don't exactly know what he (Pearce) is expected to do in that situation, but we know how the game views that.' Watch Alex Pearce's collision with Darcy Byrne-Jones in the video above Former Adelaide Crow Rory Sloane added: 'As a defender you've got no choice but to brace. I think he's going to be given three weeks unfortunately on the back of what we've seen so far this year.' Essendon great Matthew Lloyd said: 'It's hard as a defender when you commit and then at the last second you see (the player) and you brace yourself.' Barrett added: 'It doesn't seem right, the three weeks, does it.' Dockers coach Justin Longmuir defended his skipper after the game, saying he thought he was making a play on the ball. Power coach Ken Hinkley didn't seem so sure. 'Once upon a time, there were footy incidents that weren't such a big issue, but they are now, and rightly so, because of the concussion,' Hinkley said. 'I'm sure both players went at the ball pretty reasonable. 'But in the end, there was a brace, seemed like a brace that causes some problems, and whether that's Darcy hitting his head on the ground or not, it causes concussion.' Byrne-Jones was in the prime position to take a mark. Only at the last second does Pearce appear to change focus from the ball to the Port forward, bracing a catching him high with his shoulder. Byrne-Jones' head does appear to hit the ground quite hard, however, Longmuir is not expecting anything to come from it. 'I'm not concerned at all,' he said. 'I love the courage of Byrne-Jones. You never like to see anyone get injured. But from what I saw, Alex is making a play on the ball. 'Extreme courage to go back with the flight like that and touch the ball before Alex gets there. But from what I see, Alex is making a play on the ball. 'I don't think he makes contact with the head. 'What's Alex supposed to do in that situation? Pull out of that contest and let him mark it, going back with a flight? He'd get crucified, if Alex pulled out of that contest, that's what would happen. 'I didn't think it was a free kick. I've got no issues with it being paid a free kick. But I didn't really think it was a free kick. I just thought it was two guys contesting the ball. 'I didn't see any head high contact.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dockers crush Power but star defender faces AFL ban
Fremantle skipper Alex Pearce is facing the prospect of a multi-week suspension after clattering into Darcy Byrne-Jones during the Dockers' 49-point win over Port Adelaide at a wet and slippery Optus Stadium. Luke Jackson starred in the ruck with 38 hitouts, 21 disposals and eight clearances to go with a goal from the pocket, while Murphy Reid kicked four majors as Fremantle stormed to the 15.10 (100) to 7.9 (51) victory in front of 40,466 fans on Saturday night. But the biggest talking point of the night was the ugly second-quarter collision between Pearce and Byrne-Jones. Byrne-Jones had his eyes on the ball and was running with the flight of the kick when Pearce charged in from the opposite direction. Pearce initially looked like he was setting out to take a mark or produce a spoil, but he took his eyes off the ball at the last moment when he realised a collision was imminent. Although the airborne Pearce didn't turn his body in a bumping motion, his left shoulder still thumped into the head of Byrne-Jones. The incident sparked a mini melee as Port Adelaide players expressed their anger towards Pearce, with a groggy-looking Byrne-Jones helped off the ground and subbed out of the match with concussion. Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir held his head in his hands upon seeing the incident, and Pearce faces a nervous wait to see how the match review officer accesses the collision. The Dockers' impressive display improved their season record to 6-5, while Port's finals hopes are looking dire at 4-7. Jackson was the dominant figure on the ground as the lead ruckman, Reid showed why he's being touted as a future superstar with the second four-goal haul of his career, while Caleb Serong racked up 29 disposals and 12 clearances. There's been talk Jackson could request a trade back to Melbourne at the end of the season, but the way he's embraced the lead ruck role over the past two weeks in the absence of Sean Darcy has heightened hopes among Fremantle fans he will stay put. "It was good fun," Jackson told Fox Sports. "I do love it (playing in the ruck). It's a good position. You're around the ball most of the time. I feel like that's where I play my best footy. "I'm just happy the team got a win, we're on a roll now. "I love Freo, I love the club, and I'm just really happy with my footy at the moment, and I'm really happy." "Unicorns do exist!" 🦄Luke Jackson slots the drop punt from the boundary!#AFLFreoPower — AFL (@AFL) May 24, 2025 Mitch Georgiades kicked three goals for Port and Ollie Wines tallied 33 disposals and seven clearances, but the Power coudn't kick a winning score despite winning the inside 50m count, with the absence of Jason Horne-Francis keenly felt. Fremantle defender Cooper Simpson lasted less than nine minutes, with the 20-year-old subbed out after injuring his left shoulder in a heavy hip-and-shoulder with Logan Evans. Port tallied 20 inside 50s to eight in the opening term, with the rain not affecting their early chip-mark tactics. Two goals to Georgiades, including one from a strong contested mark in the goalsquare, got them early rewards, but Fremantle proved to be the more efficient team in attack on the way to taking a two-point lead into quarter time. Fremantle capitalised on Jackson's ruck dominance to open up a 15-point lead in the second term, but a goal to Willie Rioli in his 100-game milestone just 10 seconds before half-time reduced the gap to eight points. The rain went away in the third term, and Fremantle capitalised with four goals to nil to open up a match-winning lead.
