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Gun Roo in hot water over intentional off-ball strike
SEN • August 3rd, 2025 4:52 pm
North Melbourne forward Paul Curtis has been reported for an off-ball strike on Saint Angus Hastie.
Following a shot at goal after the first quarter siren in North Melbourne's clash with St Kilda, Curtis struck Hastie with an open hand to the neck, with the umpire immediately placing the forward on report.
According to Fox Footy's David Zita, Curtis could easily be facing a one-match ban for the strike.
“The fact that it is behind the play – these things are usually graded as intentional, so that lowers the threshold for what impact this needs to be for this to be a one match ban,” Zita reported.
“We know the AFL doesn’t like this – behind the ball shots at other players. Paul Curtis had that dangerous tackle ban earlier this season that had North Melbourne fans up in arms, but this one is purely of his own doing.
“He has put himself on the MRO’s radar, and now he’s going to have to wait and see if he gets what would at least be a one-match ban for low impact if it is deemed to be that.
“Open hand or not, striking charges – they’re certainly something the AFL wants to get out of the game, and that was something that didn’t need to happen.”
Curtis has already missed three weeks with suspension in 2025, concussing Port Adelaide’s Josh Sinn in what the MRO deemed a dangerous tackle.
