Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:

Matthew Boyd (WB), making contact with umpire Chris Donlan. It is his first offense, incurring a $3200 fine. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $2400.

Lenny Hayes (STK), tripping Bulldog Jason Akermanis: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), equaling three points, a Level One offense, 80 demerits, and a reprimand. He has a total of one match suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty 10% and 88 demerits. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% and 66 demerits held over toward his future record.

Jordan Lewis (HAW), attempting to strike Essendon's Nathan Lovett-Murray: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equalling six points, a Level Two offense, 80 demerits and a reprimand. He has no applicable good or bad record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 60 demerits, still a reprimand, with the demerits held over toward his future record.

A number of Fremantle and West Coast players were fined for brawling. All players accepted the fines as follows:

WEST COAST
 Beau Waters, Matt Priddis and Ben Cousins were fined $2000 each for a first offense and accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $1500.

FREMANTLE
Matthew Carr, fined $4400 for a third offense, accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $3300

Matthew Pavlich, fined $3200 for a second offense, accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $2400. second offence for engaging in a melee is a $3200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $2400 sanction.

Josh Carr, Paul Hasleby and Heath Black were fined $2000 for a first offesne, accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $1500.

Contact between Geelong's Steven King and the goal umpire was assessed. The MRP ruled that King had eyes only for the ball as he lept to catch the ball to prevent a goal. At the same time, the goal umpire moved to position himself properly to make a ruling if the ball crossed the line. While contact was made, the panel ruled that the goal umpire contributed to the contact and deemed the incident not to be a reportable offense.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release