Saints taking Higgins' three-game ban to AFL tribunal

Jack Higgins (obscured) tackles Port's Aliir Aliir.
Aliir Aliir (r) played no further part in the game after this tackle from St Kilda's Jack Higgins. -AAP Image

St Kilda will go to the AFL tribunal after forward Jack Higgins was banned for three games over a tackle that concussed Port Adelaide's Aliir Aliir.

Given the severity of the penalty, the Saints were always likely to test the rough conduct charge.

Aliir's head hit the ground and he was subbed out of the game after Higgins tackled him in the second term of Friday night's match at Adelaide Oval.

The Power have confirmed the defender will miss Thursday's Showdown against Adelaide because of concussion.

While the Saints could fight the rough conduct charge, they also could seek to reduce the grading of the incident to lessen Higgins's penalty.

The tackle was graded as careless contact, severe impact and high contact.

The Western Bulldogs confirmed on Monday they will accept Rhylee West's one-game suspension.

West was banned for rough conduct, after his high bump on Fremantle's Brandon Walker.