Western Bulldogs midfielder Ed Richards could land himself in hot water after a centre stoppage collision with an umpire.
AFL umpire Daniel Johanson was backing out of a centre ball-up when Richards came across the umpire’s exit line as he tried to engage his Port Adelaide opponent Willem Drew.
Johanson was collected by the oncoming Richards behind his left shoulder blade and grimaced immediately.
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After initially trying to keep his eye on the play, Johanson was given a moment of reprieve when a non-controlling umpire picked out a Port Adelaide free kick.
At the stop of play, Johanson went straight down onto one knee and was hunched over himself as Power midfielder Ollie Wines came over to check on him.
“The umpire’s hurt here, they might have to hold this up for a second,” Dwayne Russell said on Fox Sports.
“It’ll be a Port free.
“They are supposed to keep that area behind the umpire clear so the umpire can back out.”
Johanson took himself out of the action and handed the ball to another umpire, who took control of the play.
Richards could face a fine if the match review officer deems that he breached his duty of care and therefore acted carelessly.
Richards ticked off several of the factors that go into that decision, including “whether the player has taken a path that intersects the umpire’s exit line for a stoppage”.
The Dogs star was only trying to engage Drew and did not mean harm, but may still have breached his duty of care in the MRO’s eyes.
Careless umpire contact can only incur a fine — at least until a player’s fourth offence in the same season, at which point a one-match suspension is imposed.
