Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has again called for a “send-off rule” to be introduced in the AFL, after Richmond captain Toby Nankervis’ bump concussed Sydney’s Jake Lloyd, forcing the Swan out of the game on Thursday night.
The Tigers recorded a season-defining 13-point victory over the Swans to keep their finals hopes alive, but may be without Nankervis for a lengthy period, with his hit on Lloyd sure to attract the attention of the MRO.
Nankervis went on to collect a handy 19 disposals and also kicked a goal in the Tigers’ victory.
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Cornes said the clash between Nankervis and Lloyd was the “perfect reason as to why a send-off rule should be introduced” in the AFL.
However, Richmond coach Andrew McQualter was adamant that Nankervis played his role to perfection and did not apologise for the big man’s ferocity around the footy.
“Toby’s greatest strength for a long period of time (has been) his ability to get after the ball and the opposition,” McQualter said on Thursday night.
“Whatever comes of it comes, but we wouldn’t change Toby for the world.”
Sydney coach John Longmire was quiet around the send-off rule discussion post-match, but did express his disappointment in the loss of Lloyd’s ability on field from the second quarter onwards.
“You can’t do anything about it. Suck it up,” Longmire said on Thursday night.
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“He (Nankervis) had a big role and unfortunately Jakey Lloyd didn’t have any role in the game, which was disappointing.”
But Cornes was uncompromising in his view that Nankervis should have been punished on the spot, considering his impact in helping the Tigers over the line.
“If that’s a grand final and you lose a really important player and the disruption that happens to your team and then the other guy goes on to be in the top three on the ground, how (is) that fair?” he told SEN.
“He’s cleaned Lloyd up after he disposed of the ball in an era where we know you can’t go anywhere near the head.
“I thought it was pretty dirty from Toby Nankervis and clearly the coach from Sydney was not happy about it.”
Nankervis could spend three or more weeks on the sidelines if the incident is graded careless conduct, high contact and severe impact.
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