A recent loss for the Hawthorn Football Club has brought an on-field incident under the spotlight, raising questions about player conduct and potential penalties. While the team experienced a defeat against the Western Bulldogs, attention has shifted to a specific play that may lead to a player facing the Match Review Officer (MRO).
The game between the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn concluded with the Bulldogs winning by 44 points. During the match, Hawthorn's midfield player Jai Newcombe was involved in an event that now requires review. Simultaneously, a young player from the Western Bulldogs, Jordan Croft, showcased promising athletic ability, notably with his second goal of the game. Croft's performance, including a recovery from a marking contest against Josh Battle, has been highlighted as a positive for his team.
Incident Details and Potential Repercussions
The focus of the scrutiny is on an incident involving Jai Newcombe. While the exact nature of his action requiring review is not detailed in the provided information, the report states he "faces a nervous wait for the match review findings." This implies an action that falls under the MRO's purview, possibly related to conduct during play.
Read More: Izak Rankine gets 4-match ban for homophobic slur, misses AFL finals
Separately, but also involving Hawthorn players and potential MRO attention, is an incident from a different match. Hawthorn's ruckman, Lloyd Meek, has previously faced the MRO for a late spoil attempt on Collingwood's Patrick Lipinski. This incident occurred in the third term of a match where Jamie Elliott passed the ball to Lipinski. Although Meek did not make direct head contact, his momentum caused Lipinski to fall and hit his head on the ground, leading to a concussion and Lipinski being ruled out of the game. This resulted in a 50-meter penalty and a goal for Collingwood, with reports suggesting Meek could face a three-match ban for rough conduct.
Read More: Collingwood Captain Darcy Moore Says He Is Close To Playing Before Season Opener
Another player who has faced scrutiny is Melbourne's Steven May, for a high hit on Carlton's Francis Evans that left Evans bleeding. May's coach, Simon Goodwin, stated that May's "intent was to get the ball" and not to harm Evans.
| Player Involved | Team | Opponent | Nature of Incident | Outcome | Potential Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Newcombe | Hawthorn | Western Bulldogs | Action requiring review | Pending MRO findings | Unknown |
| Lloyd Meek | Hawthorn | Collingwood | Late spoil attempt | Concussion to opponent, 50m penalty, goal kicked | Potential 3-match ban |
| Steven May | Melbourne | Carlton | High hit | Opponent bleeding profusely, player faces scrutiny | Under AFL scrutiny |
Club Performance and Broader Context
In the match against the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn lost 18.9 (117) to 11.7 (73). The report notes that Hawthorn "had issues across all three zones on the ground" and "still have work to do." This loss is part of a pattern, as another article mentions Hawthorn losing "three on the trot" in the context of the Meek incident. The team's pressure and scoring have been identified as areas needing improvement.
In a separate game, the Melbourne Football Club defeated the Richmond Football Club. Jordan Croft's athletic performance was a bright spot for the Western Bulldogs in their game against Hawthorn, showcasing his skills with a notable second goal.
Read More: Melbourne Demons win big pre-season game by 80 points against North Melbourne
Expert and Official Statements
No direct expert analysis or official statements regarding the Jai Newcombe incident are available in the provided text. However, in the case of Steven May's hit, his coach, Simon Goodwin, was quoted as backing his player, stating, "Intent was to get the ball" and that there was "no intent from him to hurt Evans."
Conclusion and Next Steps
The immediate consequence for Jai Newcombe is a period of uncertainty as his actions are reviewed by the MRO. The outcome of this review will determine if any penalties are applied. This situation, along with the prior MRO scrutiny of Lloyd Meek and the ongoing review of Steven May, highlights the rigorous oversight of player conduct in the sport. For Hawthorn, the club faces not only potential player sanctions but also the ongoing challenge of improving team performance, as indicated by the analysis of their "issues across all three zones."
Sources:
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/dashing-dees-take-care-of-tigers-as-lightning-strikes-twice-in-ballarat-practice-match-20260227-p5o5zc.html
https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-mro-hawthorn-ruckman-facing-scrutiny-for-late-spoil-attempt-163220/
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/05/31/meek-in-mro-hot-water-as-hollywood-hawks-lose-three-on-the-trot/
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-19/afl-round-19-haw-pa-syd-nm-carl-melb-wce-rich/105550212/
https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1797926/afl-match-preview-dogs-v-hawks
