2 weeks Ago By Harrison Reid
Brisbane midfielder Belle Dawes could have a nervous wait to learn her fate from the match review officer after flattening Hawthorn defender Ainslie Kemp during their AFLW qualifying final on Sunday. Kemp came off second best in a brutal contest with Dawes on the wing during the second quarter at Ikon Park when the two players were on a collision course for each other in a contest for the ball. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Ainslie Kemp goes down after big AFLW hit.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Dawes will argue that her hit was unavoidable in the context of the contest, with the ball clearly in play between them, but it could hurt her in the MRO’s eyes that she jumped off the ground. Dawes left the ground and hit Kemp front-on with her chest, leaving the Hawthorn player flat on the ground. “Ooo, that’s a big hit! Belle Dawes has gone bang, and (Kemp) has been flattened and isn’t getting up,” Alister Nicholson said on commentary.
“That was a huge hit.” Play went on as the ball left the area, but Channel 7 commentator Alicia Eva was concerned. “We might have to stop the game here,” she said.
Nicholson added: “Play goes on. They’re calling for medical assistance and now the umpires will surely put a halt to proceedings.” After an extended moment on the ground with as many as four trainers surrounding her, Kemp eventually got back to her feet and was able to run off the ground.
“It’s good to see she’s sitting up, albeit she’s not in a good way,” Eva said before she got up. Nicholson said: “That was a very strong physical challenges by Dawes, and one that will be looked at.” Kemp was later able to come back onto the ground after passing all the relevant tests, which will be looked on favourably when the MRO assesses the incident.
More to come ...
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