Sydney Swans veteran Luke Parker is certain to be suspended by the VFL after a high bump on Frankston player Josh Smith on Friday.
Parker, who has not been seen at AFL level this season despite having recovered from the broken arm he suffered on the eve of the season, was playing his fourth consecutive week at the lower level when he made the reckless decision.
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Parker ran past the ball and lined up Smith with a crushing bump during the second half for the Swans’ reserves against Frankston at Kinetic Stadium on Friday night.
The ball was over five metres behind the former Swans captain when he took out Smith, who was sent to hospital with facial injuries.
It’s believed he suffered a cheekbone injury.
Parker will be suspended by the VFL which will also make him unavailable for AFL selection, at a time when he looked all but certain to earn a recall.
After a dominant month in the reserves, Parker had a spot opened up for him in the seniors by the injured Robbie Fox, who hurt himself against Carlton on Friday night, and possibly another one by Chad Warner, who could be suspended for his hit on Marc Pittonet.
Luke Parker (second from right) cleaned up Josh Smith (right) with a big hit. Credit: VFL
But he will now have to wait even longer to work his way back into the AFL.
“I see him getting back into the team at some point,” Kate McCarthy said on Armchair Experts.
“I would have thought with (Robbie) Fox’s injury, that would be next week.
“But from what we saw from the grainy footage, I believe that he will face a fair bit of scrutiny for that one.
“It was an off-the-ball block, he’s got him, the ball’s gone past where he is, and then he’s copped him high.
“From everything we’ve seen so far this year, that’s definitely going to be at least a week, which would mean he’s out of the team for another week, but I’d say it’s more than that.”
Adam Cooney said it would be more than a week.
“Eight, nine years ago, you would have called it a perfect shepherd for the guy coming through. Now, you know you can’t do that,” he said.
“It was just so unnecessary and if the injuries that are rumoured to be true, he’s going to face a few weeks on the sidelines — which is unfortunate, because with the Fox injury, there was a spot opening up that he possibly could have come in(to).”
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