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Calls for lengthy suspension for Conor Nash
Andrew Slevison • April 22nd, 2025 11:06 am
Hawthorn’s Conor Nash is facing, at the very least, three weeks on the sidelines for his head-high hit on Geelong’s Gryan Miers.
The Hawks midfielder caught Miers with an errant arm to the head in the third quarter of his side’s seven-point loss to the Cats at the MCG on Easter Monday.
Miers was knocked out and played no further part in the game which does not read well for Nash who is highly likely to cop a multi-week sanction from MRO Michael Christian.
Channel 9 journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris believes three weeks is the minimum given it was careless, severe impact and high contact.
“Conor Nash is facing at least a three-week ban. Careless, it has to be given severe impact because Gryan Miers was concussed, and then high contact,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
“So it’s just a question of whether Michael Christian wants to give it three and that’s it, or give it three plus in which case it automatically goes to the Tribunal, and maybe the AFL argues for four or five.
“My gut-feel is three, but I don’t know. It’s still a heavy ban either way.”
Tim Watson is of the belief that Nash’s actions should be penalised in excess of three weeks and as a result will be sent straight to the Tribunal.
“I think it should be more than three, I think it should go to the Tribunal,” said Watson.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they came back with a verdict of four or more.”
During the SEN broadcast of the game, Gerard Whateley felt that Nash will be given his right whack of four weeks or more given the reckless nature of the incident.
“You can’t excuse the action, he’s not swatting the ball,” said Whateley.
“He’s had a big swing at him there. He hasn’t deliberately punched him in the head but he’s nowhere near the ball.
“Nash’s best result is three, but that is going to be closer to four or five. A swinging arm that knocks a player out, you’re not getting three for that.”
For context, Fremantle’s Patrick Voss was suspended for three matches for a swinging arm which broke the nose of Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin in Round 5, but did not concuss the Tiger.
Another incident stemming from the Cats v Hawks clash that will be looked at is Bailey Smith’s slamming of the footy into the face of Jarman Impey on the boundary line.
While it wasn’t a great look, Smith will not be suspended and will most likely be fined for his actions - the second time in two weeks after he flipped the double bird to the Adelaide Oval crowd after the Gather Round win over the Crows.
“I think he’ll get a fine for misconduct for the ball to Impey’s face,” Morris added.
“Misconduct is defined as anything outside of the general matrix, unsportsmanlike conduct.
“It will be a $1000 fine assuming that’s his first offence.”
Smith spoke to Channel 7 after the game and admitted what he did was wrong.
“Probably shouldn’t have done what I did to Impey when I threw the ball at his head,” Smith said.
“But I was fired up, it’s Easter Monday.
“I don’t know… you know when you have no control over your actions… oh well, (it was) stupid.”
The Cats will take their 4-2 record into another massive clash with Carlton at the MCG on Sunday as the Hawks, who have dropped two in a row, meet West Coast at Marvel Stadium on the same day to wrap up Round 7.
