A premiership side doesn't hand away a 26-point lead at home without feeling the sting of it for weeks to come.The Western Bulldogs overcame Brisbane at the Gabba in a thriller, and now the defending champions face a second punch to the gut: key defenders potentially sidelined just as the real business begins.
Andrews was suspended for three matches over high contact that knocked out Bulldog Arty Jones on Saturday night, while Bailey and Gardiner received one-game bans for other incidents.Co-captain Andrews was charged over the high contact that knocked out the Bulldogs' Arthur Jones at the Gabba on Saturday night. The pair had flown for an aerial contest and when the ball hit the deck, the Lions' skipper threw back his left arm to block Jones' run but struck him in the face.
The incident has sparked debate about the severity of the sanction.A three-match suspension for Brisbane's Harris Andrews is too harsh, according to Kane Cornes, while the contact was heavy, there is a perception that the Andrews arm was merely careless and not intentional. The match review officer graded the incident as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact.
The reigning dual premiers confirmed they will attempt to overturn the bans of Andrews and Gardiner at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night, but won't challenge Bailey's suspension. This calculated approach suggests the club sees stronger grounds for defence in the other two cases.
The timing couldn't be worse.The loss of premier defender Andrews would be significant given the Lions face red-hot Sydney and their new spearhead Charlie Curnow at the SCG on Saturday night.Andrews, 29, is also slated to miss games against St Kilda and Collingwood. Add to thatco-captain and star midfielder Hugh McCluggage had suffered a low-grade strain of his left calf in the first quarter of Saturday night's match at the Gabba, and Brisbane's depth in both midfield and defence will be tested immediately.
The tribunal process offers Brisbane its chance to build a case.The Match Review Officer reviews video footage of potential offences post-match and issues charges or fines for lower-level violations, referring more serious or contested cases to a formal hearing panel. Players may accept charges with a discount for early guilty pleas or contest them at a Tribunal hearing, where they receive legal representation and evidence is presented. How persuasive the Lions' arguments prove will shape their season from Round 1 onwards. For a team that blew 26 points clear, getting their best defenders back on the park becomes essential.