Bo Allan: West Coast Eagles debutant hit with one-match suspension for strike on Melbourne’s Jack Viney

The stop-start opening to Bo Allan’s AFL career continues, with West Coast’s top draft pick copping a one-game ban for catching Melbourne star Jack Viney high in a marking contest.

Allan caught Viney high with a swinging arm in the third quarter of their 32-point loss at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

The 19-year-old attempted to spoil, but missed the ball with his eyes on Viney and caught the former Demons skipper high.

Viney played out the game despite the incident, but the match review officer deemed the incident as careless contact, medium impact and high which carries a one-game ban.

Eagles coach Andrew McQualter was confident the Eagles’ top draftee wouldn’t be cited when asked about the incident after the match.

“I haven’t looked at it again on tape, but I saw it live,” McQualter said.

“Vines played out the game which is usually an indication that it will be OK.”

Should West Coast opt not to challenge the ban, Allan’s frustrating start to the season will continue as he misses out on the club’s sole trip to the MCG this season to face Richmond.

The left-footer has been struck down by two separate bouts of illness in the opening months of the season, delaying his debut until Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Melbourne forward Jake Melksham has escaped suspension for a marking contest that left Eagles defender Jeremy McGovern concussed and missing this weekend’s clash against Richmond at the MCG.

Melksham pushed McGovern as he tried to take a mark, with McGovern colliding with Demons forward Harry Petty in an incident which left both players subbed out of the game with a concussion.

“Melksham and McGovern have their eyes on the ball as Harrison Petty and Reuben Ginbey compete in front of them,” the MRO explained.

“With his eyes on the ball, Melksham makes contact with McGovern’s back and simultaneously, Melksham makes contact with McGovern’s foot as he positions himself to take the mark, resulting in McGovern being put off balance and his head making contact with Petty’s back while Petty is contesting the mark.

“It was the view of the MRO that the contact from Melksham was not of a forceful nature and that having regard to all of the circumstances, it was not reasonably foreseeable that McGovern and Petty would make contact in the manner that occurred. No further action was taken.”