Overview

• Essendon midfielder Sam Durham accepted a two-game suspension for careless, high-impact contact on Adam Cerra in their June 8 match.
• The AFL match review officer graded the bump as careless conduct with high impact and high contact under the league’s 2025 guidelines.
• Cerra sustained a black eye but was cleared of concussion after on-field head injury assessments and a Detailed Off-field HIA.
• An AFL statement confirmed Carlton’s medical staff managed Cerra’s head knock in line with concussion protocols and removed him only as a precaution.
• Former players and analysts have criticised the two-game ban as too lenient and urged stricter enforcement of head contact rules.