Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Charges Laid:

Richard Douglas (ADE), fined $2600 for a first offense of making negligent contact with umpire Stephen McBurney. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $1950.

Dean Solomon (FRE), striking Geelong's Cameron Ling: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), severe impact (four points) and high contact (two points), equaling nine points. The severity of the offense means it was automatically referred to the Tribunal, giving Solomon no chance to enter an early plea for a reduction in demerits. He also has a poor record of three games suspended within the last three years and 32.81 demerits held over from within the last 12 months.

Despite a remorseful and apologetic Solomon pleading guilty and receiving character evidence from former Essendon teammates Adam Ramanauskas and his former coach Kevin Sheedy, the Tribunal deemed the incident worth 850 demerits and an eight game suspension. Solomon said he regretted his action, which left Ling with a fractured cheekbone, immediately afterward and had tried to call Ling to apologize the next day. Ling was in surgery at the time and the Geelong club doctor said Ling could miss three to six weeks. Solomon later sent an apology to Ling via a text message. Ramanauskas told the panel that "...the real Dean Solomon was not the person we saw for a couple of seconds on Saturday".

Fremantle has no chance of making the finals this year, meaning Solomon will miss the rest of the season as well as the first game of 2009 with the suspension.

Ryan Crowley (FRE), striking Geelong's Gary Ablett: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 25 demerits, and a one game suspension. His record of one game suspended within the past three years increases the penalty 10% to 137.50 demerits. Had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced 25% to 103.13 demerits and a one game suspension. He and the club opted to fight the charge at the Tribunal. Crowley took his case to the Tribunal and successfully had the charge overturned.

Daniel Pratt (NM), misconduct in that he made unreasonable/unnecessary contact to the face of Port Adelaide's Brett Ebert: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 225 demerits and a two game suspension. His record of one game suspended within the last three years increases the penalty 10% to 247.50 demerits. He also has 68.75 demerits held over from the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 316.25 demerits and a three game suspension. Had he accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 237.19 demerits and a two game suspension. Pratt took his case to the Tribunal and successfully had the charge overturned.

Amon Buchanan (SYD), rough conduct against Hawthorn's Luke Hodge: 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. His record of one game suspended within the past year increases the penalty 10% to 467.50 demerits. He has 82.81 demerits held over from the past year, increasing the penalty further to 550.31 demerits and a five game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 412.73 demerits and a four game suspension.

Colin Sylvia (MELB), Melbourne striking Bulldog Dale Morris: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand.

Daniel Kerr (WCE), striking Richmond's Matthew White: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling six points, a Level Three offense, 225 demerits and a two game suspension. His record of seven games suspended within the last three years increases the penalty 50% to 337.50 demerits and a three game suspension. He also has 76.34 demerits held over from the past year, further increasing the penalty to 413.84 demerits and a four game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 310.38 demerits and a three game suspension.

The match day report against Carlton's Jarrad Waite for striking St Kilda's Clinton Jones was dismissed by the Match Review Panel. The panel ruled that although Waite's contact was high, he had eyes only for the ball and made a legitimate attempt to spoil Jones' attempt to mark (catch the ball).

The match day reports against Richmond's Brett Deledio and West Coast's Darren Glass for wrestling were dismissed. There MRP ruled that the grappling between the pair did not last long enough to constitute an offense. from Sunday's game for wrestling each other were assessed. It was the view of the panel there was no serious grappling for any length of time to constitute a wrestle. No further action was taken

Source: Melbourne Age & Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release