Rohan accepts one-game sling tackle ban

GEELONG Football Club has decided to withdraw its challenge against Gary Rohan’s one-game ban over his sling tackle on Hawthorn’s Changkuoth Jiath.

The decision was announced after the Cats indicated they would take the case to the AFL tribunal to clear the premiership player’s name and allow him to face West Coast on Sunday.

The incident occurred during Geelong’s victory over Hawthorn on Easter Monday, with Rohan charged with rough conduct despite Jiath not being injured. The tackle was graded as medium impact, careless conduct and high contact due to Jiath’s head hitting the turf.

Despite the initial intention to challenge the ban, the club later decided to accept the punishment handed down by the match review officer. The AFL released a statement on Thursday afternoon confirming the decision, bringing an end to the speculation surrounding Rohan’s availability for the upcoming match.

Rohan’s absence will be a blow for Geelong as they look to continue their winning start to the season. However, the club has expressed its commitment to upholding the AFL’s standards of player safety and sportsmanship, and will continue to support Rohan and work with him to ensure he avoids similar incidents in the future.