WA young gun Arthur Jones sidelined with concussion after high hit from Lions’ Harris Andrews in Opening Round

Mt Barker small forward Arthur Jones will miss at least the next fortnight after he was concussed in an incident with Brisbane premiership captain Harris Andrews in Opening Round on Saturday. Jones has enjoyed a strong pre-season with the Western Bulldogs and had started well up forward for his side at the Gabba. However he was helped from the ground by trainers in the third term after copping a high hit from Andrews who swung his arm back when Jones was attempting to take possession of a ground ball following a marking contest. Andrews was handed a three-match ban as a result of the contact, the AFL match review officer grading the incident careless conduct, high contact and severe impact. The Lions star defender challenged the sanction at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night but the ban was upheld. The Bulldogs confirmed Jones has entered concussion protocols after the incident, leaving the field with an immediate bruise below his eye. “Arthur received some high contact at the end of the third quarter against the Lions,” Bulldogs head of sports medicine Chris Bell said. “He has since started within our concussion management framework and will be monitored across the next 12 days to determine his return-to-play plan.” Jones will miss the Bulldogs’ home clash against GWS in round one this week and their road trip in round two to face Adelaide and is likely to be available after their bye in round four against Essendon on April 5. It is a bitter blow for the talented 22-year-old who is trying to become a regular in the Dogs team, having managed only 19 AFL games since being drafted in 2021. Jones had collected seven possessions at more than 85 per cent disposal efficiency to go with three tackles and two score involvements before playing no further part in the five-point win over the Lions. Andrews gave evidence at the tribunal, arguing he was attempting to shepherd for Dayne Zorko when he threw his left arm back and accidentally concussed Jones in a “very unfortunate accident” as he lunged for the ball. The Lions were arguing the action was not careless and didn’t warrant a three-match ban because it wasn’t severe. However the tribunal found the attempted shepherd to be a careless strike and upheld the original ban. “It left Jones motionless on the turf for a period of time and he suffered a concussion and immediate bruising below his eye,” the tribunal said in its verdict. “There is nothing about the impact that leads us to conclude that other factors relevant to impact are more consistent with a lesser impact grading. “We find that this is a careless strike, high contact and severe impact.” Meanwhile Collingwood fairest and best winner and North Albany product Darcy Cameron made a strong start to 2026. Cameron kicked a vital goal and had 19 touches to go with five clearances, 20 hit-outs, five marks and six tackles in a superb first-up showing for the Magpies as they beat St Kilda by 12 points. The ruckman was named in the Pies’ best players after also having seven intercept possessions, five score involvements and a game-high 13 contested possessions in a battle with big off-season Saints signing Tom De Koning. Carlton defender and North Albany junior Mitch McGovern suffered an opening round loss, as his side were overpowered by Sydney at the SCG on March 5. McGovern finished with 16 disposals, five marks, 421m gained and five intercept possessions as the Blues were thumped by 63 points.