“I got smashed for saying this – yes, we’re trying to stamp out concussions – but I thought Andrews meant to body check,” King told SEN.
“He’s flushed him in the face. I said three weeks down to one, and it got hammered on the weekend. There was no intention (to hurt) – it’s a rarity.”
The Lions face the Swans, St Kilda at Marvel Stadium in round three and Collingwood on Easter Thursday in their next three games. They have a bye in round two.
Gardiner was given a one-match ban for a late hit with a forearm to the face of forward Aaron Naughton in the final minutes of the match, conceding a 50-metre penalty.
The incident was graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, prompting a one-week ban.
Bailey, one of the league’s top free agents this season, was handed a one-match ban for elbowing Michael Sellwood in the head during a scuffle on the wing in the third quarter.
The incident was graded as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, triggering a one-game ban.
The Lions opted not to challenge this decision.