Port Adelaide defender Dan Houston has been suspended for five weeks by the AFL tribunal for colliding with Adelaide’s Izak Rankin which sparked a heated altercation in the Showdown.
Houston’s strike, which left Rankin with a head injury and saw him taken from the field on a stretcher in the third quarter of the Power’s win, was graded as careless conduct and high contact with serious impact by match review officer Michael Christian, triggering an automatic tribunal hearing.
The ban ensures his season is over barring a successful appeal, and the Power have a maximum of one home-and-away match and four finals left in 2024; given Houston’s interest in a trade to Victoria, this could be his last match as a Port Adelaide player.
However, given the Power have nothing to lose by taking the matter to the AFL Appeals Board, it is highly likely they will do so and attempt to free Houston for a potential Grand Final, if they can.
Only a three-match suspension will guarantee Houston’s availability for the last Saturday of September, a four-match ban will free him only if the Power team features in the game despite losing the qualifying final.
The Age’s Caroline Wilson reported on Monday that Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks described Houston’s attack as “dog action” in an on-field conversation with Power coach Ken Hinkley.
At the tribunal hearing, Power argued for a three-match suspension, claiming that Houston’s bump had not hit Rankin’s head and that his injury had occurred after he hit the ground, also arguing that the half-back’s previously clean record should be taken into account.
Speaking at the tribunal, Houston expressed regret for the incident and said it would be ‘devastating’ to miss the grand final because of the accident.
He said, “I regret my decision to exclude Izak and am deeply saddened by the hurt my decision has caused him.”
“I remember the ball coming towards me after a double punch from (Adelaide defender Mark) Keane. My first thought was to get the ball myself. I remember I was about a metre away from Rankin when I saw him. I don’t remember deciding to bump. It’s clear from the film that I made that decision.”
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“My intention was never to hurt Izak, much less injure him. I don’t think I made any contact with Izak’s head, neck or upper shoulders, however I accept my collision caused his head to hit the ground, and because of that, it is classed as high contact.”
“At the time, I didn’t see his head hit the ground because I was looking at the ball. I don’t know why I didn’t make the tackle. In the past, that has been my first instinct. I don’t know why I decided to bump because I don’t remember why I made that decision because it all happened so quickly.
Dan Houston’s final strike knocked out Izaak Rankin. (Photo: Mark Brake/Getty Images)
“I approached Izak after the match and apologised. I now want to apologise again formally.
“I think I’m a fair player. I’ve never been suspended before.
“I’ve been an AFL player for nine years. I’ve played in a lot of finals but never a grand final. To lose the chance to play in a grand final would be a huge blow.”
The AFL sought a five-match suspension, with lawyer Lisa Hannon describing the blow as a “high level incident of recklessness”, while accepting the Power’s argument that Houston’s first contact with Rankin was to the shoulder and upper neck rather than a direct blow to the head.
Croes’ medical report confirmed that in addition to the concussion, Rankin had also suffered an A/C joint injury as a result of the collision.
In response, Port Adelaide lawyer Ben Krupka argued that the incident was far less serious than incidents that attract bans of five matches or more, and that given the lack of direct high contact, and Houston’s remorse and clean record, only a three-week ban should be imposed.
Explaining the decision, the tribunal said Houston’s ‘negligence was significant’ and the impact was ‘serious’, and Rankin was ‘unsafe and vulnerable’.
“In these circumstances it is the clear duty of the opposing player not to take any action which could reasonably be anticipated to cause an offence,” the statement said.
“Houston breached his duty to take care, and his breach was significant. He had time to think, he had time to weigh his options. He had time and a clear opportunity to make the tackle. He chose to sprint for several metres and hit Rankin hard.
“We are satisfied that he struck Rankin’s upper shoulder and neck with great force. His forceful attack also caused Rankin’s head to strike the ground with great force.
“Although Houston’s feet had not left the ground, and he appeared to have made some attempt to lower his body, the time it took him to decide not to hit, Rankin’s weakness and the speed and force of the impact lead us to conclude that this was a serious breach of the duty of care.
“Rankin expected to be attacked – but he didn’t expect to be pushed from above.
“We have taken into account Houston’s guilty plea, among other things, including his good record, his remorse and the need for consistency compared with other recent comparable tribunal decisions. Having done so, we consider that the appropriate sentence is five weeks for the reasons set out above.
“His negligence was enormous, the impact was very serious. The immediate consequences for Rankin were clear: he suffered a concussion, appeared to have injured his shoulder and there was the possibility of a more serious injury.
“We do not consider that these circumstances give rise to exceptional and compelling circumstances. We do not consider the consequence of not playing in the finals and potentially the grand final to have an impact on the sanction that should be imposed, particularly for such a serious breach and causing such a significant injury.”
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