Western Bulldogs great Bob Murphy doesn’t want to see North Melbourne ’s Jackson Archer banned over the horror collision with Luke Cleary, which has drawn a three-match suspension. Dogs defender Cleary was knocked out when Archer’s knee made contact with his head in a contest in Saturday night’s match at Marvel Stadium. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Luke Cleary knocked out in sickening collision.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Play was stopped and Cleary received medical attention before being taken to hospital. The 23-year-old was back at Whitten Oval in good spirits on Monday but will miss the Bulldogs’ AFL/VFL centenary celebration match against Collingwood on Friday night under concussion protocols. The match review officer graded Archer’s actions as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, resulting in a three-game suspension.
North Melbourne on Monday confirmed they will challenge the penalty at the tribunal, one of three cases to be heard that night. Hawthorn will challenge defender Jack Scrimshaw’s three-match ban for a high hit on Essendon’s Jordan Ridley, and Richmond will challenge Tom Lynch’s one-match suspension for rough conduct on Carlton’s Tom De Koning. Sydney have accepted Justin McInerney’s three-match ban for the bump that concussed Brisbane’s Brandon Starcevich.
Former Bulldogs captain Murphy, who has returned to the club in a leadership and cultural capacity this year, does not believe Archer should be suspende.
