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Out for three! Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield fails in Tribunal bid after bump on Jake Kelly

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Catherine HealeyThe West Australian
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VideoThe AFL has made an example out of star Cat Patrick Dangerfield for his bump on Crow Jake Kelly.

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield admits he’s “disappointed” to miss three weeks for his bump on Crow Jake Kelly after being referred directly to the tribunal.

Dangerfield pleaded guilty to rough conduct and admitted his conduct was careless, but contested the “severe impact” classification and even used Siri in his defence.

Dangerfield’s lawyer Ben Ihle unsuccessfully argued the midfielder made every attempt to stay low and tuck his elbow in when he made contact with Kelly.

“This is not a bump to the head case, this is a bump to the body which results in incidental or accidental head contact,” he told the hearing.

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A concussed Jake Kelly lies on the turf.
Camera IconA concussed Jake Kelly lies on the turf. Credit: Mark Brake/AFL Photos

In a bid to argue what stipulates “severe” contact, Ihle used vision of three separate severe impact cases and even called on Siri to define what “severe” is.

The first was now-Cat Jeremy Cameron’s strike on Brisbane’s Harris Andrews which resulted in a bleed on the brain for the Lions defender.

Cameron was handed a five-game ban for that strike in 2018.

He also showed the sling tackle that resulted in a four-game ban for Demon Alex Neal-Bullen and Ben Long’s strike on Docker Sean Darcy, which ended in a three-game suspension.

VideoAFL 360: Jason Dunstall has weighed in on Patrick Dangerfield's recent bump, saying he hates the defense that player's claim they had no choice.

A medical report submitted by the Crows showed Kelly required treatment for a “significant concussion and a broken nose”.

He will miss at least one match with his condition to be monitored.

AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson said there were six aspects to consider in the Dangerfield case – the speed as he approaches, the decision to leave the ground, the contact, Kelly’s expectations of contact, Kelly’s injuries and the potential for an even more serious injury.

It took the jury of Richard Loveridge, Paul Williams and Jason Johnson less than 20 minutes to dismiss Dangerfield’s argument.

He will now miss games against Brisbane, Hawthorn and Melbourne.

“Disappointed, but I certainly understand it,” he told Seven News after the verdict.

“I appreciate in the current climate how we need to make sure we protect the health and safety of players and respect concussion.”

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