GWS forward Toby Bedford to miss elimination final against St Kilda after one-match rough conduct ban upheld

GWS small ahead Toby Bedford will miss the Giants’ elimination remaining in opposition to St Kilda after failing to have his one-match tough conduct ban overturned or downgraded on the AFL tribunal.

Bedford was charged for his off-the-ball bump on Carlton defender Zac Fisher within the third quarter of GWS’ round-24 win at Docklands.

The contact was graded as careless, medium affect and excessive contact, drawing a one-match ban, after Fisher required a concussion evaluation at three-quarter time, which he handed.

GWS argued the bump was not excessive or forceful and shouldn’t be thought of medium affect.

Each of these arguments had been rejected by the panel of Jeff Gleeson, Darren Gaspar and Scott Stevens, who agreed with AFL counsel Lisa Hannon’s argument the potential to trigger a head harm meant the bump must be thought of medium affect.

Hannon additionally mentioned the way by which Bedford approached the ball was unreasonable within the circumstances as he may have elected to shepherd or block with out bumping Fisher as strongly as he did.

Gleeson cited video and nonetheless photograph proof of Fisher’s head showing to return into contact with Bedford’s physique in a whiplash movement, and the ahead holding his jaw after the incident.

Bedford, dominated out of his first profession AFL remaining on the MCG on Saturday, didn’t communicate.

The Giants relied closely on testimony from Fisher, who mentioned the bump was not excessive.

“It was entrance shoulder in opposition to his shoulder,” Fisher mentioned.

“By means of the shoulder, it was a great bump — however I positively may’ve protected myself slightly bit higher.”