by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:
Matthew Kreuzer (CARL), negligent contact with an umpire. It is his first offense, incurring a fine of $1200, which was reduced 25% to $900 as he accepted.
Daniel Jackson (RICH), striking Melbourne's James McDonald: 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. With no prior record, had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record.
However, Jackson opted to challenge the charge. AFL advocate Jeff Gleeson contended that Jackson "... swung his arm in an independent motion and at some speed ..." and was therefore guilty. Jackson's defense was that the incident looked worse in slow motion video than it really was and that real time video showed that his action was minimal. Jackson also argued that as he and McDonald, who had gained possession of the ball, approached each other from opposite directions, he had tried to pull back his arm to avoid serious contact with McDonald. He claimed that he realized some contact with McDonald was inevitable but not to McDonald's head. He further contended that contact was accidental.
The panel accepted his argument and downgraded the classification from reckless to negligent. The revised classification reduced his demerits to 80. Jackson said that he opted to risk a one game suspension in an effort to prevent a slur on his character. He added that he always tries to win the ball fairly and his contact with McDonald was due to normal actions in a game.
Steve Johnson (GEEL), tripping Port Adelaide's Robert Gray: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), equaling four activation points, Level One offense, 80 demerits, and a reprimand. He has 45 demerits held over from the past year, increasing the penalty to 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand, with the demerits held over toward his future record.
Leigh Montagna (STK), with tripping Docker Des Headland: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), equaling four activation points, a Level One offense, 80 demerits, and a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 45 demerits and a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record.
The match day report against Melbourne’s Brent Moloney for striking Richmond’s Ben Nason was reviewed by the Match Review Panel. The panel determined that the contact was a bump made to the shoulder area and that there was no high contact. As a result the report was dismissed.
Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release, sen.com.au
Article last changed on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 3:55 PM EDT