Border Mail |
ANDY Carey’s finals campaign hangs in the balance with the Albury powerhouse reported for his part in a fiery melee during Saturday’s heated clash with Yarrawonga.
The Tigers claimed the minor premiership in impressive fashion at the weekend with a 47-point victory but it could come at a telling cost.
Carey, who was sent off for striking Corey Greer, will front the tribunal on Wednesday after being booked by three umpires.
Matt Shir is also in doubt for September with the classy midfielder suffering a quad strain on Saturday.
He is unlikely to play in the second semi-final and is under a cloud for the rest of the Tigers’ campaign.
Shir, who had starred until he left the ground, will get his injury assessed in Melbourne this week.
Saturday’s contest at Albury Sportsground will be remembered by most for the fighting, with any future clash between the bitter rivals this season shaping as an even more must-watch encounter than usual.
There were a host of flare-ups during the first 10 minutes of the second half, with Dean Polo, Marcus McMillan, Joel Mackie, Xavier Leslie, Craig Ednie and Chris Hyde all in the thick of things in front of Yarrawonga’s interchange.
Ednie left the ground bleeding from the face, while Mackie spent a minute in the hands of trainers after being floored by the former Pigeons’ coach.
Soon after, a high shot from Albury’s Josh Gaynor on Xavier Leslie sparked a second frenzy that saw Carey reported.
Neither club had any major issue with the niggle.
“Both clubs are really proud and there was a lot to play for,” Hyde said.
“You’ve got 42 men running around and there’s a lot on the line so at times there’s going to be a little feeling in the game.”
Yarrawonga coach Chris Kennedy agreed.
“It’s always going to be like that when Yarrawonga plays Albury,” Kennedy said.
“There’s always going to be tension.
“There’s a fair bit of passion when the two sides play each other.”
