Hall Let Off With Fine

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Charges Laid:

Chris Dawes (COL), rough conduct against Geelong's Cameron Ling: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point), and high contact (two points), equaling four activation points, a Level One offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has no prior record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record.

Nathan Fyfe (FRE), fined $1200 for a first offense of negligent contact with an umpire. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.

Barry Hall (WB), misconduct for his headlock on North Melbourne's Scott Thompson: Hall was fined $4000 and accepted, reducing the fine to $3000.

The charge was laid according to the Table of Offenses, which stipulates that the Match Reiew Panel (MRP) can impose a fine for an offense which is not listed or classified on the Table. The MRP also took into account the medical report on Thompson and the relevant footage in determining that a charge of rough conduct was not appropriate in the circumstances of this case.  The Bulldog playing group indicated that to reporters they will contribute to help him pay the fine.

Jason Davenport (PA), striking Melbourne's Colin Garland: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), medium impact (two points), and body contact (one point), equaling six activation points, a Level Three offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He has no record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 168.75 demerits and a one game suspension with 68.75 demerits held over toward his future record.

Jay Schulz (PA), striking Melbourne's Colin Garland: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point), and body contact (one point), equaling five activation points, a Level Two offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has a five-year clean record which reduces the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand. He accepted, reducing the penalty a further 25% to 70.31 demerits, still a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record.

Brent Moloney (MELB), bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Port Adelaide's Tom Logan: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point), and high contact (two point), equaling five activation points, a Level Two offense, 250 demerits, and a two game suspension. His five year clean record reduces the penalty 25% to 187.50 demerits. Had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced a further 25% to 140.63 demerits, still a one game suspension with 40.63 demerits held over toward his future record.

Moloney decided to take his case to the Tribunal in an effort to have the negligent classification downgraded to reckelss. He argued that his contact with Logan was not to the head, but shoulder-to-shoulder contact. Although the panel ruled that the contact was head-high, they did agree that the contact was reckless rather than negligent, which still leaves Moloney with 93.75 demerits held over toward his future record.

Mitch Farmer (RICH), striking Essendon's Michael Hurley: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point), and high contact (two points), equaling five activation points, a Level Two offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has no record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to points and a one-match sanction. He has no existing good or bad record. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record.

Brendon Goddard (STK), fined $2400 for a second offense of negligent contact with an umpire. He accepted, reducing the fine to $1800.

The match day report against North Melbourne's Scott Thompson for wrestling Barry Hall was reviewed. The MRP ruled that Hall had Thompson in a headlock and that Thompson was not wrestling. They therefore dismissed the charge.

The match day report against North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson for rough conduct for headbutting Barry Hall was eviewed. The MRP ruled that the force used by Hall was below the requirements to constitute a report and dismissed the charge.

The match day report laid against North Melbourne’s Scott McMahon for rough conduct for kneeing Bulldog Liam Picken was reviewed. The MRP ruled that the force used by McMahon was below the requirements to constitute a report and dismissed the charge.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release