‘Hard to see Boomer playing prelim’

Jon Ralph discusses the clash between Brent Harvey and Joel Selwood during Friday night's AFL semi-final between Geelong and North Melbourne.

Brent Harvey and Joel Selwood had a running battle all night. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

AS much as it's unpalatable and seemingly unfair, it is difficult to see how North Melbourne's Brent Harvey can avoid being suspended for this week's preliminary final.

Everyone by now should understand the stricter bump rule — if you choose to bump and make forceful head contact, even accidentally, then you're responsible for the consequences.

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Harvey chose to jump and bump Joel Selwood when the ball wasn't even in the vicinity. Not a wise decision.

North Melbourne have won a thrilling AFL semi-final against Geelong, holding on for a six point victory.

Yes, you could argue the head clash wasn't forceful, but a key opposition leader and playmaker was forced off the ground with blood streaming from an eyebrow cut. Not a good look.

Geelong's compulsory medical report to the AFL match review panel will state how Selwood had to be stitched up during the half-time break. Not a good read.

Even with the lowest rough conduct gradings of negligent conduct with low impact, Harvey attracts 125 demerit points. With a clean record, he pleads guilty and escapes with a reprimand.

Do you think Brent Harvey will be suspended?

Alas, he's lumbered with 41 carry-over points and a 10 per cent bad record loading from the three-game suspension from his Round 21 misconduct offence.

The 25 per cent discount for an early guilty plead would still leave him with 137 points and an automatic one-match ban. Only a successful tribunal challenge to, perhaps, question Selwood's eyebrow scar tissue would allow him to play against the Swans.

You have to feel for the popular Kangaroo, but he had been warned.

* Bruce Matthews has been covering the VFL/AFL tribunal for more than 20 years.

Originally published as 'Hard to see Boomer playing prelim'

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