Nic Nat backs Fyfe over trip
West Coast star Nic Naitanui has backed Brownlow Medal favourite Nat Fyfe to escape with a fine when his tripping charge is assessed by the AFL match review panel today.
Fyfe was reported for tripping Western Bulldogs midfielder Koby Stevens on Sunday. If it is deemed to be low impact, he will be offered a $1000 fine and remain eligible for the Brownlow Medal.
Naitanui received a $1000 fine for tripping Brisbane’s Jack Redden in round four. He said Fyfe deserved the same penalty.
"Fyfe will be sweet. I think mine was pretty similar to him," Naitanui said.
"I think he’s good for 1000 bucks as well. He won’t be too stressed this morning."
Naitanui said it was easy to accidentally trip an opponent in a desperate attempt to stop them from running past.
He said instincts took over once the game began.
"Someone tried to run around me and I stupidly stuck my leg out. It was similar to what Nat’s done. You don’t want to get stepped (around) in a game. You know you’re going to be in the vision on a Monday morning of a guy running around you," he said.
"I think it’s just instinct to try to stop that guy getting past you."
Naitanui praised the new tribunal system which had allowed more players to escape suspension.
"I think it’s a good system. Especially if a guy is in his position," Naitanui said.
"Being eligible for the Brownlow which I guess he’s probably leading at this stage as well. To go for something like that would not make too much sense."
