Gold Coast Suns forward Ben King has avoided disciplinary action following an incident involving Lachie Whitfield during a closely contested match against the Giants, which ended in a seven-point victory for Sydney. The incident occurred in the ninth minute when Whitfield attempted to chase a stray kick from Toby Bedford. As he did so, King approached from the opposite direction, leading to a collision.
Commenting on the hit, Fox Footy’s Gerard Healy praised King’s technique, describing it as “absolutely perfect.” Whitfield remained on the field for the majority of the first quarter but eventually left with medical staff just before the break.
At quarter-time, former players Alastair Lynch and Brad Johnson shared their thoughts on the collision. Lynch suggested that King was attempting to protect the ball while making contact with Whitfield, while Johnson noted the awkward nature of the play, where the ball slipped away from Whitfield, preventing him from bracing for the impact.
David King offered a contrasting perspective, indicating that he believed King might face scrutiny for his actions, especially as he appeared to veer past the ball to initiate contact. However, after review, the match review officer did not include King in any report, clearing him of any potential penalties.
In contrast to King’s situation, his teammate Matt Rowell faced consequences for a separate incident, receiving a fine of $3,125 for careless contact with an umpire, marking his fourth offence. Toby Greene also incurred a fine of $1,875 for his actions during the match, while GWS player Jake Riccardi was penalised $2,000 for tripping.
Overall, while King’s collision with Whitfield raised discussions among commentators and analysts about the nature of the hit, it ultimately did not lead to any sanction, allowing him to continue his season unscathed. Meanwhile, Rowell’s fine underscores the scrutiny players face regarding their conduct on the field.