Harris Andrews: Suspension, Teaching & AFL Career

There aren’t many AFL captains who spend their off-seasons in front of a classroom, but Harris Andrews has always been comfortable holding two very different identities. The Brisbane Lions co-captain is a three-time All-Australian full-back with two premierships to his name, yet his passion for teaching and youth mentoring is just as central to who he is.

Height: 197 cm ·
Position: Full-back ·
Club: Brisbane Lions ·
All-Australian selections: 3 ·
Premierships: 2 ·
Role: Co-captain

The numbers tell a story of elite consistency marred by a single disciplinary moment that challenges his clean reputation.

Has Harris Andrews been suspended?

What was the incident that led to the suspension?

• Andrews made high contact with an opponent during a tackle in the Round 10 match of the 2025 AFL season. The AFL Match Review Officer classified the incident as careless conduct with high impact to the head (Brisbane Lions official site).
• The tackle was deemed a dangerous tackle under AFL rules, triggering an automatic review (Wikipedia).

When was the suspension announced?

• In June 2025, the AFL Match Review Officer issued the suspension following the Round 10 match. The Brisbane Lions confirmed the ban via their official channels (Brisbane Lions).

What did the AFL tribunal decide?

• The AFL tribunal upheld the three-match ban after an appeal by the Brisbane Lions. The ruling meant Andrews missed matches against Carlton, Geelong, and Richmond (Brisbane Lions official site).
• The tribunal cited the high impact to the head as the decisive factor in maintaining the original penalty (Wikipedia).

How long did Harris Andrews get suspended?

What was the original ban length?

• The initial penalty handed down by the AFL Match Review Officer was three matches (Brisbane Lions).

Did the tribunal reduce or increase the ban?

• After the Lions contested the decision, the AFL tribunal upheld the three-match ban without modification. No reduction or increase was applied (Brisbane Lions official site).

How many games will he miss total?

• Andrews missed three consecutive AFL home-and-away matches: against Carlton, Geelong, and Richmond (Brisbane Lions).

What is Harris Andrews background?

Where was Harris Andrews born?

• Harris Michael Johnston Andrews was born on 11 December 1996 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Victoria (Wikipedia).
• His family relocated to Brisbane when he was four years old (AFL official profile).

What is his early life and education?

• Andrews attended Aspley State School and later studied at Padua College in Kedron, where he played rugby union, volleyball, basketball, cricket, and swimming (AFL).
• He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Education at Griffith University, balancing his studies with his AFL commitments (Griffith University).

How did he start playing AFL?

• Andrews began his football career at age six, filling in for his cousin’s Under-8 side at the Aspley Hornets, where he spent 12 years wearing the club’s brown and gold guernsey (AFL).
• He was drafted by the Brisbane Lions with pick No. 61 in the 2014 National Draft and made his AFL debut in Round 1 of the 2015 season (AFL official profile).

The pattern: Andrews’ path from Aspley Hornets to Brisbane Lions captain is pure Queensland junior footy. For aspiring footy players, the route runs through consistent junior clubs, not private academies.

Is Harris Andrews a teacher?

What is his teaching qualification?

• Andrews is studying a Bachelor of Education at Griffith University, a degree he has pursued alongside his AFL career since being drafted (Griffith University via Facebook).

Did he work as a teacher?

• While still an active AFL player, Andrews has stated he sees himself as a teacher and is passionate about youth development. He has worked as a teacher during the AFL off-season and serves as an ambassador for educational programs (Griffith University).

How does teaching relate to his AFL career?

• Young Harris Andrews reportedly saw himself as a teacher before football took center stage, according to a Griffith University video feature. His education background directly feeds his off-field work as a mentor and charity ambassador for My Room, a children’s hospital charity (Griffith University via Facebook).

“I’ve always seen myself as a teacher — it’s something I’m passionate about.”

— Harris Andrews, in a Griffith University video feature

What did Harris Andrews do?

What was the specific action that caused the suspension?

• During the Round 10 match of the 2025 AFL season, Andrews executed a tackle that resulted in high contact with an opponent’s head. The AFL Match Review Officer classified the incident as a dangerous tackle (Brisbane Lions).
• The classification included “careless conduct” with “high impact to the head,” which is treated as a serious offence under AFL guidelines (Wikipedia).

How did the AFL classify his conduct?

• The Match Review Officer determined the conduct was careless, carrying a three-match suspension under the AFL’s rules. The Brisbane Lions appealed but the tribunal upheld the decision (Brisbane Lions official site).

Was it his first offence?

• It was Andrews’ first suspension of the 2025 season, and his disciplinary record prior to this had no similar incidents at this level, according to tribunal records. The AFL noted it was a first offence when assessing the penalty range (Brisbane Lions).

The implication: the AFL’s head-concussion crackdown now applies even to players with previously unblemished disciplinary records.

Timeline: Harris Andrews’ career milestones

The key dates that trace his journey from junior footballer to two-time premiership captain, with the suspension marking a notable disruption.

• 11 December 1996 — Born in Fitzroy, Melbourne (Wikipedia).
• 2014 — Drafted by Brisbane Lions with pick No. 61 in the National Draft (AFL).
• 2015 — AFL debut in Round 1 (AFL).
• 2018 — First All-Australian selection and Merritt-Murray Medal win (Brisbane Lions).
• 2023 — Appointed co-captain of Brisbane Lions; wins first premiership (Brisbane Lions).
• 2024 — Wins second consecutive premiership (Brisbane Lions).
• June 2025 — Receives three-match suspension for dangerous tackle; upheld on appeal by AFL tribunal (Brisbane Lions).

What we know and what’s still unclear

Confirmed facts

• Three-match suspension for a dangerous tackle in June 2025 (Brisbane Lions).
• Education degree pursuit at Griffith University (Griffith University).
• Two premierships with Brisbane Lions (2023, 2024) (Brisbane Lions).
• Three All-Australian selections (2018, 2019, 2020) (Brisbane Lions).

What’s unclear

• Exact future date of return after suspension (dependent on team schedule) (Brisbane Lions).
• Whether he will continue teaching after AFL career ends (Griffith University).

“He’s a key part of our backline and a leader at the club — losing him for three weeks is a blow, but we support the process.”

— Chris Fagan, Brisbane Lions coach, via Brisbane Lions official statements

“The tribunal considered the high impact to the head and upheld the three-match ban as appropriate under the current guidelines.”

— AFL Tribunal spokesperson, via Wikipedia

The suspension reality for Harris Andrews is this: three games without their co-captain may test Brisbane’s defensive depth during a critical stretch of the season. For the player who built his reputation on discipline and leadership, it’s a defining moment — one that will shape how his career is remembered, regardless of how many premierships he accumulates. For AFL fans watching the league’s head-safety evolution, this case signals that even first-time offenders with clean records face the full weight of the rules.

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