Tigers’ Prestia down, Cats star facing ban

Geelong defender Tom Stewart has been sent directly to the AFL Tribunal for the heavy bump that concussed Richmond’s Dion Prestia.

And Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe has been cleared of wrongdoing after making contact with an umpire.

Triple All Australian backman Stewart can expect a lengthy suspension for his hit on Prestia during the Cats’ three-point win at the MCG on Saturday night.

The AFL’s match review officer Michael Christian charged Stewart with rough conduct and graded the bump as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

Prestia had tapped the ball onwards to a teammate and the ball was metres away when Stewart collected the Tiger star’s head with his left shoulder.

Prestia was instantly concussed and was substituted out of the game.

Speaking after the match, Geelong coach Chris Scott said Stewart had told him: “I have just made a horrible error and I feel terrible about it … I ran past the ball and I chose to bump … I’m going to pay the price for it.”

“He knows he has done the wrong thing,” Scott said.

“Was it deliberate? Of course it wasn’t. He’s made an error and, as people do (who) I admire, he’s prepared to stand up and say ‘I was wrong’.”

Stewart’s bump prompted debate about the introduction of a send-off rule in the AFL, which league headquarters on Sunday said would not be considered.

Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron ($1500) and Richmond’s Marlion Pickett ($1000) were fined for wrestling each other in the same match.

Meanwhile, Fremantle’s dual Brownlow medallist Fyfe is free to play against Port Adelaide in round 16 despite making contact with an umpire during Carlton’s win over the Dockers on Saturday.

At three quarter-time in the Marvel Stadium fixture, Fyfe was involved in a push-and-shove with several Blues players.

Carlton’s Matt Cottrell pushed Fyfe and the Dockers skipper put his hand on the chest of field umpire Robert O’Gorman while still looking at Blues players.

The matter was investigated by match review officer Christian, who said Fyfe’s actions did not constitute a reportable offence.