Charges Laid:
Jess Sinclair (KANG), rough conduct against Magpie Ryan Lonie: negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points), and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two Offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He has no applicable good or bad record so an plea would reduce the penalty 25% to 168.75 demerits and a one game suspension.
Sinclair took his case to the Tribunal. Video footage showed Sinclair to be airborne when he bumped Lonie, who laid motionless on the ground for a few seconds after the clash. However, Collingwood's medical report stated that, while Lonie was stunned briefly, there was no evidence of contact to the head, only bruising to his right shoulder. Lonie was called as a witness and supported Sinclair's claim that there had been no contact to the head. Field umpire Stuart Wenn, who awarded a 50 meter (55 yard) penalty at the time, also stated that contact was shoulder to shoulder. The panel agreed and dismissed the charge.
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Ryan Crowley (FRE), rough conduct against Port Adelaide's Daniel Motlop: negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point), and high contact (two points), equaling four points, Level One Offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He has no applicable good or bad record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand, with the demerits held toward his future record.
Steven Dodd (FRE), misconduct in that he stomped on Port Adelaide's Damon White: intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point), and body contact (one point), equaling five points, Level Two Offense, drawing 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He has no applicable good or bad record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 168.75 demerits and a one game suspension.
Luke Hodge (HAW), tripping Brisbane's Nigel Lappin: 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. points and a reprimand. He has been suspended for one game in the past three years, increasing the penalty 10% to 88 demerits. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 66 demerits and a reprimand with the demerits held toward his future record.
Cameron Wood (BRIS) and Simon Taylor (HAW), wrestling each other. It is a first offense for both, which incurs a $1200 fine. Both players accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900 each.
Nathan Bassett (ADE), rough conduct against Essendon's Leroy Jetta: negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points), and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two Offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He has no applicable good or bad record, so an early plea would reduce the penalty 25% 168.75 demerits and a one game suspension.
Bassett took his case to the Tribunal. In he defense, Bassett explained that after he attempted to smother Jetta's kick, he had no choice but to make contact with Jetta. The panel agreed and dismissed the charge.
Other incidents assessed, no charges laid:
Matthew Pavlich (FRE), reported for striking Port Adelaide's Darryl Wakelin: The Match Review Panel (MRP) ruled that Wakelin was running back with the flight of the ball and Pavlich was running to the contest with his eyes on the ball. Pavlich extended his arm with an open hand to contest the ball. In doing so, he made contact with Wakelin's face. However, the contact was not deemed to be a striking action and the report was thrown out.
Jordan Lewis (HAW), reported for rough conduct against Brisbane's Cheynee Stiller: The MRP ruled that just before contact was made, Lewis turned his body to reduce the impact and contact was made to Stiller's back, not his head and/or neck. The report was dismissed.
Alwyn Davey (ESS), reported for making forceful contact with Adelaide's Martin Mattner: The panel ruled that Mattner had possession of the ball and slipped over while trying to change direction. He then ducked his head into the oncoming Davey, causing Davey to make contact to his head. As Davey had no control of the circumstances - i.e., Mattner slipping and ducking his head - the panel dismissed the report.
Luke McGuane (RICH), reported for making forceful front-on contact to Carlton's Marc Murphy: The MRP ruled that, although Murphy had his head over the ball and McGuane did make contact to the back of Murphy's head and neck, the contact was not a bump or forceful. The report was dismissed.
Contact between Melbourne's Matthew Whelan and St Kilda's Luke Ball was reviewed. Ball was chasing a Melbourne player in possession of the ball and Whelan came in to shepherd for his teammate. As Whelan turned to execute the block, contact was made between Whelan's back and Ball's chest. The panel ruled that the momentum of the two players caused an accidental head clash. The panel further deemed, under the new and stricter interpretation of the head contact rule, that the force was not excessive, Ball was in a position to protect himself, and Whelan did not use his shoulder or elbow to make contact, nor did he leave the ground at any time. As such, the MRP ruled the action not reportable.
Contact between Melbourne's Aaron Davey and St Kilda's Steven Baker: The MRP ruled that Davey made contact with Baker's neck after the latter had disposed of the ball, but Davey's action was a push, not a strike, and not reportable.
Contact between Brisbane's Cameron Wood and Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis was reviewed. The MRP ruled that Wood's action in raising his arm and making contact with Lewis' neck region was a push, not a strike and not reportable.
Source: Melbourne Age & Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release
Article last changed on Wednesday, April 04, 2007 - 8:00 PM EDT
