Mooney Loses At Tribunal

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Charges Laid:

Jared Brennan (BRIS), bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Carlton's Matthew Kreuzer: 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. His existing record of a previous one game suspension within the past three years increases the penalty 10% to 137.50 demerits. He also has 82.21 demerits held over from the past year, further increasing the penalty to 220.31 demerits and a two game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 165.23 demerits and a one game suspension, with 65.23 demerits held over toward his future record.

Shannon Hurn, (WCE), rough conduct against Port Adelaide's Paul Stewart: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), high impact (three points) and high contact (two points), equaling six activation points, a Level Three offense, 325 demerits, and a three game suspension. He has no previous record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 243.75 demerits and a two game suspension with 43.75 demerits held over toward his future record.

Courtenay Dempsey (ESS), striking Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne: 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 no previous record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record. .

Matthew Scarlett (GEEL), misconduct for kneeing Hawk Michael Osborne: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and groin contact (two points), equaling five activation points, a Level Two offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He has no record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 186.75 demerits and a one game suspension.

Liam Shiels (HAW), striking Geelong's Cameron Ling: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling six activation points, a Level Three offense, 225 demerits and a two game suspension. He has no record and had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced 25% to 168.75 and a one game suspension with 68.75 demerits held over toward his future record.

Shiels took his case to the Tribunal in an effort to have the classification of intentional downgraded to negligent, which would have reduced the demerits. Shiels did admit that his hit on Ling may have been "...a bit careless" but he argued that he was only trying to block Ling from fellow Hawk Luke Hodge. He further argued that Hodge was expecting contact with Ling, who appeared to drop his shoulder. Shiels' argument was rejected by the Tribunal which upheld the original penalty of the MRP.

Cameron Mooney (GEEL), rough conduct against Hawk Rick Ladson: 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. His prior record of a one suspension within the past three years increases the penalty 10% to 137.50 demerits. He also has 31.25 demerits held over from the past year, further increasing the penalty to 168.75 demerits. Had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced 25% to 168.75 demerits, still a one game suspension with 68.75 demerits held over toward his future record.

Mooney opted to challenge the charge at the Tribunal, In his defense, he said that while conscious of the "duty of care" regarding not making head-high contact, he was merely trying to bump Ladson away from the ball. His advocate claimed that Ladson "dropped" (lowered his body) as he attempted a kick. Mooney also contended that the high contact he made with Ladson was slight and accidental. He further argued that the umpires signalled play-on, an indication that there had been no offense. Hawthorn submitted a medical report which stated that Ladson had been winded and briefly dazed afterward. However, Mooney's advocate contended that Ladson showed no signs of suffering any effects of high contact.

The Tribunal denied Mooney's claims and upheld the original penalty of the Match Review Panel. Mooney has been suspended 14 times in his career, including four in 2006, a league record for suspensions in one season.

Michael Osborne (HAW), bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Geelong's Joel Selwood: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points), equaling five activation points, a Level Two offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He has no prior 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.

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