Brisbane Lions epic comeback win could be soured with star player accused of EYE-GOUGING

Brisbane clawed back from a halftime 22-point deficit to steal a preliminary final birth from Melbourne – but Lions star Jarrod Berry could be ruled out of their AFL flag campaign after being accused of an eye-gouge on Clayton Oliver.

The Demons slumped to back-to-back finals losses, failing to contain the charging Lions in the final two quarters.

It was in the third quarter when a nasty scuffle between two class midfielders broke out with clouds over Berry’s finals future after he appeared to rake at the eyes of Oliver. 

Berry brought Oliver to the ground after he kicked the ball downfield, leading to a push and shove, where the Lions no.7 dug his left hand into the face of Oliver. 

The 26-year-old then followed up the act with his right hand, scraping once again at the eye of 2022 All Australian.

After the game, 7Sport panellist Luke Hodge said it ‘doesn’t look good’ in the slow motion replay, as Berry clawed at Oliver twice

Post game Berry said there was ‘nothing purposeful’ in the contact and believed the biff was a natural part of the contest. 

Former teammate of the Lions middle-man, Luke Hodge, said ‘in the slow motion it doesn’t look good’. 

If the Match Review committee offer the Lion a suspension, Berry will become the third Brisbane player already to cop a ban in the finals series.

Cam Rayner and Noah Answerth accepted one-match bans and missed the club’s elimination final against Richmond.  

Oliver was visibly vocal to umpires after the alleged foul play, pleading the review committee to take action.

Analysts and footy legends rushed to the defence of Berry, saying in heat of the moment contests, the review officials will always look at face contact regardless of intent. 

Clayton Oliver gestures to the eye after being allegedly eye-gouged by Lions midfielder Jarrod Berry – who put in a cracking performance while matched up against the 2022 All Australian

‘I don’t want to use the word eye gouge, but we know when you get into this situation sometimes you’re doing things to try and get yourself out of them,’ Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said. 

‘It’s the first movement – it’s a slight raking motion of the eyes. I don’t think you can be a little bit guilty of this.’

‘I think you have to take into consideration that Berry is on his back and he’s got his arm across his face/throat. You are pretty defenceless in that situation,’ Nick Riewoldt told the Fox Footy panel. 

‘(Berry’s actions are) going to be frowned upon … that will be the defence – that he is defenceless on the ground.’

Jarrod Berry comes from behind to take down Clayton Oliver after he boots the ball downfield, which led to the nasty scuffle

Berry was shifted onto Oliver by Lions coach Chris Fagan in the second half to challenge the Melbourne stars physicality, which made Brisbane’s night but could ruin next week’s chances.

Collingwood great Nathan Buckley said it was a ‘really poor moment’ which dulled the stunning performance Berry put on the 2021 premiership winner.

Brisbane are expected to welcome a Joe Daniher return next week following the birth of his first child which ruled him out of last night’s boil-over triumph.