Mansell slapped with hefty ban for push resulting in concussed Saint

Jarred Cross Published March 31, 2025 at 5.30am (AWST)

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Rhyan Mansell has become the first player to be handed a sanction by the AFL's match review for pushing an opponent into oncoming contact. (Image: AFL Photos)

Richmond forward Rhyan Mansell has been handed the AFL's first suspension for pushing an opponent into ongoing contact, receiving a three week ban for an incident which left St Kilda's Liam O'Connell concussed on Saturday.

O'Connell was subbed out of the Saints win over the Mansell's Tigers after colliding with an unintentional stray arm from Tom Lynch after being pushed into a marking contest late in the opening quarter.

Mansell is the first player to be slapped with the sanction of its kind following a memo issued by the league amid a number of similar instances over preseason, which have drawn criticism for the potential danger of the acts.

The MRO has graded Mansell's conduct careless, as well as severe impact and high contact rulings, resulting in the suspension.

O'Connell fell awkwardly and made contact with the Marvel Stadium deck after the collision with Lynch.

Mansell went to his Irish opponent and helped signal to trainers on the boundary.

There was no free kick called against Mansell on-field.

Rhyan Mansell has been handed a three-match suspension for rough conduct following this incident involving Liam O'Connell.
Full Saturday Match Review findings: https://t.co/ZurEIL7spI pic.twitter.com/yWQYxpWueO
— AFL (@AFL) March 30, 2025

On the Fox coverage, Gary Lyon called for the kind of conduct to be "outlawed" from the game.

Players being pushed into oncoming traffic has become a point of criticism from pundits in the early months of football in 2025.

Speaking post-match, Tigers coach Adam Yze, who didn't see the Saint get collected, said "based on previous incidents I don't think that has been an issue, so hopefully our's isn't either".

Richmond no.1 draft pick Sam Lalor suffered a fractured jaw after being pushed into oncoming contact during a preseason hitout with West Coast in mid-February.

"If it is a similar incident, it's pretty hard to change a rule during the season." Yze said.

"If it's deemed inappropriate we'll deal with it."

O'Connell was left with a "shiner" and "seemed okay" on the bench, Saints coach Ross Lyon said post match.

Also without having seen the incident at the time of speaking, Lyon added "it's part of the game…sometimes you get hit" saying decision-making on sanctions as a result of similar matters should be left up to the league.

St Kilda ran out big winners 135-53 over a Richmond outfit struggling to reach the same level they did in round one's upset over Carlton.