Brisbane Lions challenge Harris Andrews, Darcy Gardiner suspensions for Sydney clash

Gorringe defended the broadcast of the recording on his show, arguing that the content provided fans with real insight into football rather than the flashy responses typically given in traditional media venues.

Docherty has previously said he did not expect the voice memo to be published verbatim when it was sent to Gorringe, despite maintaining that his football analysis was fair.

The 31-year-old remains one of Carlton’s most respected figures in recent times; He served as co-captain and overcame two battles with testicular cancer during his playing career.

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However, Carlton were keen to limit further attention to the division during the short turnaround between matches following their disappointing season-opening defeat.

The Blues were comfortably defeated by Sydney in the opener, a result that intensified scrutiny of manager Michael Voss after expectations rose following the club’s return to the finals last season.

Carlton’s failure to stop Sydney’s scoring explosion during the match once again highlighted concerns about the side’s defensive structure once the matches began; this was a theme that featured heavily in Docherty’s analysis.

Thursday night’s clash with Richmond at the MCG looks like an early opportunity for Carlton to stabilize their season and quickly turn their attention back to the pitch.

Players returned to training on Monday as the club prepared for its first home game of the year.

Lions will go to court to clear Andrews and Gardiner

Jon Pierik
The Brisbane Lions will seek to allow co-captain Harris Andrews and defender Darcy Gardiner to play against Sydney this week by appealing their suspensions in the AFL tribunal.

However, the Lions chose not to appeal the one-match ban handed to midfielder Zac Bailey.

Andrews, who fell heavily after Saturday night’s shocking five-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs, was handed a three-week suspension for hitting Artie Jones while tackling a loose ball.

After breaking up the ball in a marking contest on the central wing, Harris swung his arm back and lifted Jones into the air, ending the forward’s lively night with a concussion.

Andrews quickly looked over his shoulder to see where Jones was before throwing his left arm out and connecting with Jones’ face.

Match review official Michael Christian judged the incident as careless conduct, serious impact and high contact.

A Lions spokesman confirmed on Monday that the club would appeal the bans on Andrews and Gardiner.

Former North Melbourne premiership player David King, now a leading commentator, said Andrews had been treated harshly.

King told SEN: “I’m devastated to say this – yes, we’re trying to eliminate concussions – but I thought Andrews wanted to do a body check.”

“He would get angry in his face. I said every three weeks to one, and he got hit over the weekend. I didn’t mean to (hurt him); that’s very rare.”

The Lions’ next three games will see the Swans face St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in the third round and Collingwood on Easter Thursday. They are losing in the second round.

Gardiner was given a one-match penalty and a 50-metre penalty for a late strike with his forearm on striker Aaron Naughton’s face in the final minutes of the match.

The incident was rated as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact and resulted in a one-week ban.

Bailey, one of the league’s top free agents this season, was suspended one game for elbowing Michael Sellwood in the head during a fight on the wing in the third quarter.

The incident was rated as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact and triggered a one-match ban.