Fagan\u2019s defiant call on failed \u2018experiment\u2019<\/a><\/p>\nIt would also be a major blow to the Blues\u2019 backline stocks, having also been without star defender Jacob Weitering with a calf injury since May.<\/p>\n
Having moved to 10th on the AFL ladder, next Sunday evening\u2019s clash with the 11th-placed St Kilda looms as a potential play-off for a wildcard finals spot, making Dean\u2019s availability of paramount importance.<\/p>\n
Speaking after the match, Fox Footy reporter Jay Clark said the incident was \u201cborderline\u201d worthy of a suspension – but that Dean might be saved by Rayner\u2019s right arm being left free in the tackle, as well as the Lion\u2019s quick recovery.<\/p>\n
\u201cSee how he gets his right hand around and just braces for contact? That might see that it falls in the \u2018low\u2019 force category, which is a fine and not a suspension,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRayner popped up like a sprinkler after that – we know they take into account the outcome and the impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll have a nervous night … more likely a fine, potentially, but it is a borderline situation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dean might be out of the running for the Rising Star regardless of his eligibility, with Smith\u2019s best-afield performance on Saturday night making his case even more compelling.<\/p>\n
Blues stun the Lions | 02:36<\/p>\n
The pre-season favourite for the award gathered 29 disposals and six clearances in a dominant display in midfield, kicking two goals to boot.<\/p>\n
One even came midway through the last quarter mere moments after former North Melbourne great David King began spruiking Dean\u2019s chances.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat might be your answer there, Kingy!\u201d Fox Footy commentator Anthony Hudson proclaimed.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven if you just mention Harry Dean, he says \u201cuh-uh, it\u2019s mine!\u201d Engrave it now!\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just totally owned the first half … that is a moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lions star Kai Lohmann is also in hot water over a dangerous tackle on Blue Matt Cottrell.<\/p>\n
Lohmann won a holding the ball free after tackling Cottrell to ground in the third quarter, with the midfielder\u2019s head hitting the ground.<\/p>\n
Kai Lohmann had plenty to say to Matt Cottrell after a heavy tackle.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
The goalsneak then gave the Blue a mouthful to spark a heated confrontation as Cottrell\u2019s teammates stuck up for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis head does bounce off the ground there at the end,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was more of a drag down than a sling. He\u2019s got hold of that right hand. <\/p>\n
\u201cIs there enough force with his head hitting the ground for it to deserve a one-match suspension?\u201d<\/p>\n
Riewoldt added that he would be \u201chappy\u201d to see Lohmann receive a week\u2019s ban.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve also got to get rid of this pushing players like that. It just does me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
King deemed it a \u201ctool tax\u201d, while also comparing the incident to Kangaroos forward Paul Curtis\u2019 three-match suspension<\/a> for a controversial dangerous tackle on West Coast\u2019s Hamish Davis in June.<\/p>\n\u201cIf it\u2019s Paul Curtis, he gets three weeks,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Carlton young gun Harry Dean\u2019s Rising Star hopes hang in the balance, with the Blues defender facing Match…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":838867,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[560],"tags":[638,64,63,55,639,85],"class_list":["post-838866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-afl","tag-afl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-australian-football-league","tag-australianfootballleague","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=838866"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/838866\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/838867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=838866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=838866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=838866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)