Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL
James Podsiadly, (GEEL), bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Carton's Bryce Gibbs: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points), and high contact (two points), equaling five activation points and a two game suspension. He has 60 demerits carried over from the past year which increases the penalty to 310 demerits and a three game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 232.50 demerits and a two game suspension with 32.50 demerits held over toward his future record.

Josh Hunt (GEEL), rough conduct against Carlton's Jarrad Waite: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points), and high contact (two points), equaling a Level Two offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 168.75 demerits and a one game suspension with 68.75 held over toward his future record.

Leigh Brown (COL), striking Adelaide's Graham Johncock: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point), and high contact (two points), equaling five activation points, a Level Two offense, drawing 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has 45 demerits held over from the past year, increasing the penalty to 170 demerits. Had Brown accepted, the penalty would have been reduced 25% to 127.50 demerits and a one game suspension with 27.50 demerits held over toward his future record.

Brown opted to take his case to the Tribunal in an effort to have the reckless classification downgraded to negligent. He admitted that he made high contact to Johncock but said the contact was a reflexive action. Brown said he threw his arm out in an effort to regain his balance, after losing it in an attempt to change direction to avoid contact with Johncock who had disposed of the ball. Collingwood also presented a medical report from Adelaide which showed that Johncock had not suffered any injury as a result of the high contact. However the Tribunal agreed with the AFL counsel that Brown's actions were more reckless than negligent and upheld the original penalty of the MRP.

Paul Bevan (SYD), rough conduct against Bulldog Ryan Griffen: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point), and body contact (one point), equaling three activation points, a Level One offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension.

Bevan took his case to the Tribunal and was successful in having the charge dismissed. Bevan argued that he was unaware that Griffen's feet had left the ground at the time of the tackle. He contended that he laid a "genuine tackle". The Tribunal ruled that the tackle was not a spearing or slinging motion and did not use excessive force. They therefore dismissed the charge.

The match day report against West Coast’s Beau Waters for rough conduct on North Melbourne’s Leigh Adams was assessed by the Match Review Panel. The MRP ruled that Waters was only trying to shepherd teammate Ashley Smith who had possession of the ball and was therefore a target for a tackle. The panel further ruled that the bump was not forceful, that Adams should have expected contact under the circumstances, and that Waters did not raise his elbow or leave the ground in executing the bump. They ruled that it was not reportable and dismissed the report.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release; afl.com.au