Round 19 Tribunal

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Charges Laid:   

Ben Johnson (COL), striking Richmond's Daniel Jackson, Richmond: 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 has an existing five-year good record, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 points and a reprimand. He accepted, reducing the penalty a further 25% 70.31 demerits, still a reprimand with the demerits held over toward his future record.  

Rhan Hooper (BRIS), striking Hawthorn's Rick Ladson: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), high impact (three points) and high contact (two points), equaling seven points, a Level Four offense, 325 demerits and a three game suspension. He has no existing good or bad record and had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced 25% to 243.75 demerits and a two game suspension. 

Hooper and the Lions contested the charge, with Hooper saying he had no recollection of making contact with Ladson's face and trying to have the contact listed as accidental. The incident happened when Ladson tackled Hooper from behind. Hooper then punched the ball forward and Hawthorn's Luke Hodge took possession. As Hooper tried to stop Hodge, Ladson grabbed him again and Hooper swung around, his arm catching Ladson in the face, forcing Ladson from the ground with a cut under his eye. Although the video evidence was inconclusive, the jury upheld the original finding of the Match Review Panel. As such, Hooper will now serve the full three game suspension, ruling him out for the rest of the season unless Brisbane makes the finals.

Chance Bateman (HAW), making contact with umpire Stuart Wenn, incurring a first-time fine of $3200. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $2400.   

Damon White (PA), charging Carlton's Brendan Fevola: assessed as 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 an existing five-year good record, reducing the penalty 25% to 168.75 demerits and a one game suspension. Had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced a further 25% to 126.56 demerits and a one game suspension. 

White and Port Adelaide opted to contest part of the charge. Port wanted to have the charge downgraded from reckless to negligent and from medium impact to low impact. They were successful in downgrading the classification to negligent, but the medium impact classification stood. That reduced the demerits from 225 to 125 and his good behavior over the last five years reduced it further to 93.75, leaving White with a reprimand and the demerits held over toward his future record.

Danny Sexton (STK runner), negligently making contact with umpire Chris Donlan, incurring a first-time fine of $3200. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $2400.  

The match day reports laid against Collingwood's Ben Johnson and Richmond's Daniel Jackson were assessed. The MRP ruled that Johnson striking Jackson caused the pair to go to ground. They were separated very quickly after a word from the umpire and the wrestling charge was dismissed. 

The match day report laid against Port Adelaide's Daniel Motlop for striking Carlton's Brett Thornton was reviewed. The panel ruled that Motlop jumped to try and intercept the ball. While coming down, he made contact with an open hand to the side of Thornton's face. The action was deemed not to be a strike and the charge was dismissed.

The match day report laid against West Coast's Quinten Lynch for charging Kangaroo Jesse Smith was reviewed. The panel said that Lynch led for a ball kicked from his teammate up the field. Smith intercepted the oncoming ball as Lynch was leaving the ground in his attempt to mark. Contact was unavoidable and Lynch tried to lessen the impact by turning slightly and placing his hands on Smith's back. Lynch also had begun to lower his raised knee, which he used to jump, to also lessen the impact when he realized contact would be made. Under the circumstances, the MRP dismissed the charge.

The push and shove between Hawthorn and Brisbane players was reviewed. The MRP ruled that there was no grappling of any consequence, therefore not laying any charges. 

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