Sydney Swans defender Lewis Melican is in trouble. Taylor, 30, is staring down the barrel of a suspension after a wildly controversial hit on surge during Sunday’s match against the Greater Western Sydney Giants (GWS). Melican then came through with a high shot that caught GWS midfielder Toby Bedford. As a result, Bedford endured deep cuts to the face and a permanently damaged left eye.
The clash reportedly happened when Bedford was chasing a loose ball inside the forward 50. Melican came in from the other side, and Melican’s swinging arm looked to have made contact with Bedford’s head or face. Bedford came down very hard and stayed down for approximately 30 seconds. At last, he stood up and returned to his feet. After suffering a potentially grievous injury, Bedford would go on to successfully complete his “hasty head injury assessment.” After that, he received a full medical clearance to step back on the field.
Melican’s bad day would end, rather suddenly. He is the player that ironically had to leave the game at half-time due to an eye injury. As the game wore on, tempers flared. Acrimonious and spiteful spotfires lit up across the field between both teams, highlighting the rivalry that has quickly developed between Sydney and GWS.
The case has attracted national media attention, and almost certain disciplinary action against Melican appears inevitable. The AFL has zero tolerance for head-high contact, and such plays often lead to suspensions. It is bad enough that Melican is apparently now “staring down the barrel” of such a penalty, according to reports.
You can view a clip of the near miss directly above this story. This provides fans a useful opportunity to evaluate, in real-time, the severity of the hit. 7NEWS has been following this tragic incident and its dangerous implications.
