Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL

Charges Laid:

Ivan Maric (ADE), fined $1200 for wrestling Carlton's Simon Wiggins. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.

Simon Wiggins (CARL), fined $1200 for wrestling Ivan Maric. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.

Steven Browne CARL), rough conduct against Adelaide's Jason Porplyzia: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), severe impact (four points) and high contact (two points), equaling seven activation points, a Level Four offense, 425 demerits and a four game suspension.

The club decided to contest the charge against Browne. Browne told the panel that, at the time of the collision with Porplyzia, he was running with Porplyzia's teammate Mackay to prevent Mackay from getting within range of kicking a goal. He further testified that the collision was accidental when his teammate Brett Thornton pushed him into Porplyzia and that he tried to evade the inevitable collision when he saw Porplyzia out of the corner of his eye. The panel accepted the testimony and dismissed the charge.

Darren Milburn (GEEL), rough conduct against Richmond's Shane Edwards: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), high impact (three points) and high contact (two points), equaling seven points, a Level Four offense, 425 demerits and a four game suspension. He has a clean record over the past five years, reducing the penalty 25% to 318.75 and a three game suspension.

The club contested the charge and was partially successful in getting the sentence reduced to a one game suspension. Milburn and his advocate used a loophole technicality to have the high contact reduced by arguing that Edwards' head hit the ground due to Milburn pinning his arms in a legal tackle. Milburn's advocate, Peter Murdoch, told the Tribunal that, although Edwards was slung to the ground by Milburn, the classification should be reduced to body contact and that the AFL rules did not cover this type of tackle. The panel agreed, reducing the classification and knocking off 25% for Milburn's plea to rough conduct and good behavior over the past five years. It reduced Milburn's demerits to 182.81 demerits and a one game suspension.

After the hearing, Tribunal chairman David Jones said it was something the AFL should review at the end of the season.

Jeff Farmer (FRE), striking Eagle Mark Nicoski: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, Level Two offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He has a record of eight games suspended within the past three years, increasing the penalty 50% to 187.50 demerits and a one game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 140.63 demerits and a one game suspension.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release, Melbourne Age, & afl.com.au