Ross Lyon insists St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster solely had eyes for the ball within the mid-air collision that left Fremantle’s Michael Frederick concussed.
Frederick was going again with the flight of the ball when Webster cannoned into him in the course of the first quarter of the Dockers’ 9.18 (72) to eight.7 (55) win at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night time.
Webster served a seven-match ban this yr for a brutal late hit on North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin however was making a spoiling try when he crashed into Frederick.
The 153-game defender got here from the wrong way and effected the spoil within the contest, which can be scrutinised by the AFL match evaluation officer.
“Jimmy had eyes for the ball and was going for the ball,” Saints coach Lyon instructed reporters after the match.
“It’s a ‘come forward to defend’ game. Look, I’ve got confidence in the process and the system.”
Frederick was flattened when he chased a Caleb Serong move within the centre sq. and hit his head on the bottom when he landed.
Nat Fyfe and different Dockers instantly ran to their teammate, who stayed down as St Kilda went ahead and kicked the primary aim of the sport via Mitch Owens.
Medical workers introduced out a stretcher after the aim however Frederick was capable of rise up and jog off the bottom unassisted.
The 24-year-old speedster failed a concussion take a look at within the change room and was substituted out for Tom Emmett earlier than quarter-time.
“He was good at halftime and he’s good after the game,” Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir mentioned of Frederick.
“It was clearly a big collision … so we’ll monitor him and see how he goes.
“I’d have to take a look at it – I have never actually trawled again via the imaginative and prescient – but it surely felt prefer it was a footy act once I noticed it.”
In their commentary of the match, AFL games record holder Brent Harvey and Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall both agreed Webster was contesting the ball.
“I do not assume there’s way more Jimmy Webster may have carried out,” Dunstall mentioned on Fox Footy.
“I additionally assume the gamers recognise that. There was no remonstrating with Webster.
“When Freo players came in they didn’t remonstrate because they know it was a fair contest.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
