North Melbourne spearhead Nick Larkey could come under scrutiny from the AFL’s Match Review Officer for slinging Carlton’s Mitch McGovern into the ground.
McGovern nailed Larkey with a crushing but fair tackle late in the third quarter of the Blues’ traditional Good Friday clash with the Kangaroos, which elicited an angry reaction out of the North Melbourne big man.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Nick Larkey under fire for slinging Mitch McGovern into the the ground.
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Larkey, from the supine position on the ground, grabbed McGovern’s jumper and slung him into the Marvel Stadium turf.
McGovern’s head slammed into the ground in what became an ugly incident, given the sport’s concern with brain trauma caused by knocks to the head.
Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw only recently retired from the AFL on medical grounds after brain scans revealed his health was at risk due to significant damage to his brain because of repeated head knocks.
A host of players were suspended in 2023 for sling tackles, headlined by Richmond’s Nathan Broad, who concussed Adelaide’s Patrick Parnell with a rag-dolling tackle that saw him attract a four-match suspension.
Larkey’s is unique in that his action was not a tackle on a player with the ball, and that he was the one in the vulnerable position on the ground, but the action was the same, and is likely to be scrutinised as such by MRO Michael Christian.
“That’s one thing they hate when you slam their head into the ground and he slammed his head into the ground,” AFL coaching legend Mick Malthouse said on commentary for ABC.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is in a little bit of bother.”
McGovern also took big hits to his shoulder and lower back during the first half, but played out the rest of the game.
Carlton players rushed to McGovern’s aid as a spot fire of push and shove broke out between players from both sides.
It was another black mark on a frustrating day for the Roos, who were thumped by 56 points on the back of Carlton twin towers Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, who combined for nine goals.
Coleman medallists McKay (five goals) and Curnow (four) monstered the undersized Kangaroos defence in a powerful performance in front of 47,565 fans at Marvel Stadium.
Curnow left the ground midway through the final quarter with a slight hobble and stayed on the bench, but that appeared to be only as a precaution.
North gave their supporters periods to be excited about but were still blown away and never looked like causing an upset, with the Blues leading at every change to win 21.11 (137) to 12.9 (81).
Unlike previous Good Friday games when they were embarrassed by the Western Bulldogs in 2021 and 2022, North kept fighting and attacking the scoreboard.
The Kangaroos also showed some serious aggression at times, with star forward Larkey (three goals) giving away a 50m penalty late in the third quarter for the incident with McGovern.
Already undersized in defence, North suffered another major blow when key tall Callum Coleman-Jones went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon in the second quarter.
The former Richmond player was taken from the field on a medical cart and given immediate pain relief, replaced by sub Eddie Ford.
It was North’s second serious Achilles injury in three weeks after Josh Goater’s season came to an abrupt end in the Round 1 defeat to GWS.
Carlton didn’t come out of the match unscathed, either, after defender Caleb Marchbank was concussed in a heavy collision with teammate Jordan Boyd in the final term.
Preliminary finalists last season, Carlton extended their undefeated start to 3-0, while the Kangaroos remain winless.
In an encouraging sign, star defender Jacob Weitering made an impressive return from injury, while former Gold Coast utility Elijah Hollands improved as the game progressed in his first appearance for the club.
The Blues have an opportunity to go 4-0 for the first time since 1995 — the year of their last premiership — when they face Fremantle in Gather Round next Saturday.
North will play grand finalists Brisbane Lions, smarting off a disappointing 0-3 start to their season, next Friday at Norwood Oval.
– With AAP