Round Six Tribunal Results

TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:      

Steven Baker (STK), rough conduct against Carlton's Jordan Russell: assessed as negligent impact (one point), low impact (one point), and high contact (two points), equaling four points, a Level One offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has an existing poor record of two matches suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty 20% to 150 demerits. He also has 27.50 residual demerits carried over from within the last 12 months. An early plea would have reduced the penalty 25% to 133.13 demerits, still a one game suspension.

Baker was also charged with striking Carlton's Marc Murphy: negligent impact (one point), low impact (one point), and high contact (two points), equaling four activation points, a Level One offense, 125 demerits, and another one game suspension. His record, as mentioned above, increases the penalty 20% to 150 demerits. The 27.50 demerits held over (also as mentioned above) totals 177.50 demerits. An early plea would have reduced the penalty 25% to 133.13 demerits and a one game suspension. 

Baker contested both charges, but was found guilty on both counts, which presented somewhat of a dilemma for the Tribunal. It is the first time under the three year old system that a player has been found guilty of two offenses from one game. As a result, Baker will serve a two match suspension - one game for each offense. However, the residual demerits from the two charges total 155, which means Baker faces an automatic suspension should he offend again.

In handing down the decision, Tribunal chairman David Jones ruled that the carry-over points from the first offence should not apply to the second one as, at the time Baker committed the striking offense, he did not have the residual demerits and that the carry-over demerits are meant to act as deterrent to future offenses, He did admit to some confusion and said it would be up to the AFL to clarify the matter. Should the AFL rule that the cumulative demerits should be added together, it would total 355 demerits and add another game to Baker's penalty for a three game suspension with the remaining 55 demerits held over.

Jones also said the purpose of carry-over points was to act as a deterrent to players and this could not happen within the same game. Jones said it would be up to the AFL to clarify the situation. The league did just that the following day. In a media statement, AFL Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said the Baker ruling would stand but that the AFL would modify its Tribunal rules to make it clear in future cases that all demerits incurred in the one game will be added together to calculate the relevant suspension.

Sam Mitchell (HAW), making negligent contact with an umpire: a first offense incurs a fine of $3200, which would have been reduced 25% to $2400 had he accepted. Mitchell opted to contest the charge, but was unsuccessful in his bid, requiring him to pay the full $3200 fine.

Dean Solomon (FRE), misconduct in that he kneed Brisbane's Jason Roe: reckless conduct (two points), medium impact (two points), and body contact (one point), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 225 demerits, and a two game suspension. He has 70.31 demerits carried over from within the last 12 months for a total of 295.31 demerits. An early plea would have reduced the penalty 25% to 221.48 demerits, still a two game suspension. 

Solomon and the club decided to contest the charge. His defense was that he kneed Roe in the  backside when Roe stepped into his path as Solomon was running to pick up his direct opponent, Jed Adcock. The panel downgraded the incident from negligent to reckless, reducing Solomon's penalty to just a one game suspension.

Fremantle's Dean Solomon saved one match of a potential two-game suspension when the tribunal found him guilty of misconduct but reduced the classification of the offence. Solomon pleaded not guilty to the charge, which involved kneeing Brisbane Lions' Jason Roe in the buttock after the Brisbane player stepped into his path as he ran to pick up his immediate opponent, Jed Adcock.

The jury found that Solomon's actions did constitute misconduct but that they were negligent rather than reckless.

This reduced the grading of the charge sufficiently for the former Essendon hard man to escape with a one-match penalty instead of the two as assessed by the match review panel.

Antoni Grover (FRE), attempting to trip Brisbane's Ashley McGrath: intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point), and body contact (one point), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 80 demerits, and a reprimand. He has an existing poor record of one match suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty 10% to 88 demerits. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 66 demerits, still a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record. 

Colin Sylvia (MELB), bumping or making forceful contact from front-on towards Port Adelaide's Kane Cornes: negligent contact (one point), low impact (one point), and high contact (two points), equaling four points, a Level One offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has no existing good or bad record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand. 

Aaron Davey (MELB), charging Port Adelaide's Matt Thomas: negligent contact (one point), low impact (one point), and body contact (one point), equaling three points, a Level One offense, 125 demerits, and a one game suspension. He has no existing good or bad record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand. 

Travis Johnstone (MELB), abusive language towards umpire Craig Hendrie at the end of the game: it is his first offense for a fine of $1200. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to a $900 fine.

Kayne Pettifer (RICH), wrestling Geelong's Andrew Mackie: it is his second offense for a fine of $2400. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to an $1800 fine. 

Andrew Mackie (GEEL), wrestling Tiger Kayne Pettifer: if was his first offense for a fine of $1200. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.  

  
The match day report laid against the Brisbane's Chris Johnson, for headbutting Fremantle's Shane Parker  was assessed. The MRP ruled that Johnson's head did not make contact with Parker's head. They further ruled that the force to Parker's chest was below that required to constitute a reportable offense and dismissed the report. 

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release; Melbourne Age; abc.net.au