by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago
TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:
Ben Johnson COL), forceful contact from front-on against Melbourne's Daniel Bell: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), severe impact (four points) and high contact (two points), equaling eight points, a Level Five offense, 750 demerits and a seven game suspension. He has 70.31 demerits carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 820.31 demerits and an eight game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 615.23 demerits and a six game suspension.
Jason Roe (BRIS), forceful contact from front-on to Sydney's Luke Brennan: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 250 demerits and a two game suspension. He has no applicable good or bad record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% 187.50 demerits and a one game suspension.
Steven Baker (STK) was charged following an investigation by AFL Investigations Officer Graeme McDonald with engaging in rough conduct against Docker Jeff Farmer. Because there was no video footage, the incident was referred directly to the Tribunal, disallowing Baker to enter an early plea. .
At the Tribunal hearing, there were conflicting accounts of the incident. Testifying for the Dockers was Fremantle trainer Barry Kirkwood. A surprise witness for Baker's defense was player manager Ricky Nixon. Nixon offered himself up for Baker's defense after hearing varied accounts, which he believed were incorrect, of what happened on radio. He also met with several AFL officials prior to the hearing.
Kirkwood, a Melbourne-based Dockers trainer, said he was sitting on the boundary next to a St. Kilda trainer and was about 55 yards from the incident. He said Farmer was moving "faster than a jog, but slower than a sprint" when Baker moved to block his path. Kirkwood claimed that Baker came at Farmer and hit him from behind with his "hip and shoulder, including the arm". He also admitted that Farmer's body obscured his view of actual contact but further stated that there was no way Farmer could have seen Baker coming at him.
Nixon, whose testimony conflicted that of Kirkwood, told the hearing that Baker had been running ahead of Farmer and had deliberately blocked his path with a move, he said, you would see 100 times in an under-11s game. He further testified that Farmer "ran slap-bang" into Baker's back.
Farmer testified via a phone hook-up and said he could 't recall where he was on the field at the time. He told the tribunal he felt contact to his face that left him "on the ground on all fours bleeding from the nose and mouth". He said he suffered a broken nose, cut lip and a concussion.
Baker took the stand and was questioned by AFL legal counsel Andrew Tinney. Baker admitted to intentionally blocking Farmer. Baker said he was following instructions to stay with Farmer to prevent him from moving into Fremantle's forward area. He testified that he was running ahead of Farmer and when Farmer got close, he stopped to block Farmer, who kept on running. Baker further testified that he did not know what part of Farmer had made contact with him but that he felt contact to his back and the back of his head, stumbled, and continued moving forward. Baker, who said he had a lump behind his left ear from the collision, stood with a defense assistant behind him to demonstrate how Farmer collided with him and suffered facial damage. When Tinney asserted that Baker had no right to block Farmer, Baker replied that as a defender, it was his job to block forwards.
Despite the tribunal accepting Baker's account and rejecting that of Farmer and Kirkwood, Baker's poor record and his admission of initiating contact more than 50 yards from play went against him. The jury assessed Baker's actions as reckless conduct, high impact and high contact. In determining the demerits for the guilty verdict, the jury increased Baker's penalty 40% because of a two match suspension last season as well as two one game suspensions this year. Baker also had 127.5 residual demerits carried over from this season. It added up to a total of 722.5 demerits and a seven game suspension.
It's the heaviest penalty for a single on-field charge since Carlton's Greg Williams was suspended for nine games for manhandling a field umpire in the opening round of 1997. The club got an injunction against the suspension until another hearing could be scheduled, allowing Williams to play. The appeal failed and Williams had to serve the suspension. He came back for one or two games late in the season, after which he retired.
The Saints immediately lodged for an appeal, basing their argument around the fact that the Tribunal jury accepted Baker's account that Farmer ran into him and his testimony was supported by other witnesses. Under the circumstances, they contend Baker should not have been found guilty of rough conduct. Another factor the Saints argued was that, under the circumstances, Farmer should have expected to be blocked by an opponent.
Baker's defense counsel Phillip Priest QC argued there were exceptional and compelling circumstances to overturn the suspension. In a three hour hearing, he emphasised the following:
the changing nature of the case, stating that he based the defense on alleged elbow contact
the fact that no charge was laid by the Match Review Panel, denying denying Baker the opportunity to enter an early plea and receive the 25% discount.
He also referred to Nixon's testimony and described Nixon as the nmost credible witness in the case. At the hearing, Nixon again stated that Baker's actions were "nothing a half-back flanker wouldn't do" and admitted doing it himself in his playing days. Nixon played 63 games for Carlton, St. Kilda and Hawthorn.
However, the Appeals Board upheld the original Tribunal verdict, ruling Baker out for the rest of this season as well as the early rounds of next season.
Daniel Motlop (PA), wrestling Hawk Luke Hodge. It was his first offense, incurring a fine of $1200. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.
Luke Hodge (HAW), wrestling Daniel Motlop. He was fined $1200 for a first offense and accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.
Darren Milburn (GEEL), misconduct in that he interfered with Kangaroo Shannon Grant's kick for goal. It was his first offense, incurring a fine of $1200. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.
Other Incidents Assessed:
The match day report laid against the Brisbane's Luke Power was assessed. Power was reported for charging Sydney's Craig Bolton. The Match Review Panel ruled that Power was running back with the flight of the ball and had his eyes on the ball until the last second, while jumping to spoil the mark. Power did not turn and bump Bolton at any stage and it was deemed that contact was unavoidable and not unreasonable in the circumstances. The MRP dismissed the report.
The match day report laid against West Coast's Brent Staker was assessed. Staker was reported for striking Richmond's Adam Pattison. The MRP ruled that Staker's action was an open-handed push to the chest in which he grabbed his opponent's guernsey and dismissed the report.
Contact between the Bulldog Luke Darcy and Adelaide's Kris Massie was reviewed. Massie gathers a loose ball as Darcy bumps him. Although some contact was high, considerable contact was made to the body. Darcy does not leave the ground during his bumping action. Darcy does not use his elbow as part of contact and runs in the same line as the ball and knocks it clear with the contact. Thus, the MRP deemed no charge was necessary.
Source: Melbourne Age; Herald Sun; Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release
TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:
Ben Johnson COL), forceful contact from front-on against Melbourne's Daniel Bell: assessed as reckless conduct (two points), severe impact (four points) and high contact (two points), equaling eight points, a Level Five offense, 750 demerits and a seven game suspension. He has 70.31 demerits carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 820.31 demerits and an eight game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 615.23 demerits and a six game suspension.
Jason Roe (BRIS), forceful contact from front-on to Sydney's Luke Brennan: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 250 demerits and a two game suspension. He has no applicable good or bad record and accepted, reducing the penalty 25% 187.50 demerits and a one game suspension.
Steven Baker (STK) was charged following an investigation by AFL Investigations Officer Graeme McDonald with engaging in rough conduct against Docker Jeff Farmer. Because there was no video footage, the incident was referred directly to the Tribunal, disallowing Baker to enter an early plea. .
At the Tribunal hearing, there were conflicting accounts of the incident. Testifying for the Dockers was Fremantle trainer Barry Kirkwood. A surprise witness for Baker's defense was player manager Ricky Nixon. Nixon offered himself up for Baker's defense after hearing varied accounts, which he believed were incorrect, of what happened on radio. He also met with several AFL officials prior to the hearing.
Kirkwood, a Melbourne-based Dockers trainer, said he was sitting on the boundary next to a St. Kilda trainer and was about 55 yards from the incident. He said Farmer was moving "faster than a jog, but slower than a sprint" when Baker moved to block his path. Kirkwood claimed that Baker came at Farmer and hit him from behind with his "hip and shoulder, including the arm". He also admitted that Farmer's body obscured his view of actual contact but further stated that there was no way Farmer could have seen Baker coming at him.
Nixon, whose testimony conflicted that of Kirkwood, told the hearing that Baker had been running ahead of Farmer and had deliberately blocked his path with a move, he said, you would see 100 times in an under-11s game. He further testified that Farmer "ran slap-bang" into Baker's back.
Farmer testified via a phone hook-up and said he could 't recall where he was on the field at the time. He told the tribunal he felt contact to his face that left him "on the ground on all fours bleeding from the nose and mouth". He said he suffered a broken nose, cut lip and a concussion.
Baker took the stand and was questioned by AFL legal counsel Andrew Tinney. Baker admitted to intentionally blocking Farmer. Baker said he was following instructions to stay with Farmer to prevent him from moving into Fremantle's forward area. He testified that he was running ahead of Farmer and when Farmer got close, he stopped to block Farmer, who kept on running. Baker further testified that he did not know what part of Farmer had made contact with him but that he felt contact to his back and the back of his head, stumbled, and continued moving forward. Baker, who said he had a lump behind his left ear from the collision, stood with a defense assistant behind him to demonstrate how Farmer collided with him and suffered facial damage. When Tinney asserted that Baker had no right to block Farmer, Baker replied that as a defender, it was his job to block forwards.
Despite the tribunal accepting Baker's account and rejecting that of Farmer and Kirkwood, Baker's poor record and his admission of initiating contact more than 50 yards from play went against him. The jury assessed Baker's actions as reckless conduct, high impact and high contact. In determining the demerits for the guilty verdict, the jury increased Baker's penalty 40% because of a two match suspension last season as well as two one game suspensions this year. Baker also had 127.5 residual demerits carried over from this season. It added up to a total of 722.5 demerits and a seven game suspension.
It's the heaviest penalty for a single on-field charge since Carlton's Greg Williams was suspended for nine games for manhandling a field umpire in the opening round of 1997. The club got an injunction against the suspension until another hearing could be scheduled, allowing Williams to play. The appeal failed and Williams had to serve the suspension. He came back for one or two games late in the season, after which he retired.
The Saints immediately lodged for an appeal, basing their argument around the fact that the Tribunal jury accepted Baker's account that Farmer ran into him and his testimony was supported by other witnesses. Under the circumstances, they contend Baker should not have been found guilty of rough conduct. Another factor the Saints argued was that, under the circumstances, Farmer should have expected to be blocked by an opponent.
Baker's defense counsel Phillip Priest QC argued there were exceptional and compelling circumstances to overturn the suspension. In a three hour hearing, he emphasised the following:
the changing nature of the case, stating that he based the defense on alleged elbow contact
the fact that no charge was laid by the Match Review Panel, denying denying Baker the opportunity to enter an early plea and receive the 25% discount.
He also referred to Nixon's testimony and described Nixon as the nmost credible witness in the case. At the hearing, Nixon again stated that Baker's actions were "nothing a half-back flanker wouldn't do" and admitted doing it himself in his playing days. Nixon played 63 games for Carlton, St. Kilda and Hawthorn.
However, the Appeals Board upheld the original Tribunal verdict, ruling Baker out for the rest of this season as well as the early rounds of next season.
Daniel Motlop (PA), wrestling Hawk Luke Hodge. It was his first offense, incurring a fine of $1200. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.
Luke Hodge (HAW), wrestling Daniel Motlop. He was fined $1200 for a first offense and accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.
Darren Milburn (GEEL), misconduct in that he interfered with Kangaroo Shannon Grant's kick for goal. It was his first offense, incurring a fine of $1200. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900.
Other Incidents Assessed:
The match day report laid against the Brisbane's Luke Power was assessed. Power was reported for charging Sydney's Craig Bolton. The Match Review Panel ruled that Power was running back with the flight of the ball and had his eyes on the ball until the last second, while jumping to spoil the mark. Power did not turn and bump Bolton at any stage and it was deemed that contact was unavoidable and not unreasonable in the circumstances. The MRP dismissed the report.
The match day report laid against West Coast's Brent Staker was assessed. Staker was reported for striking Richmond's Adam Pattison. The MRP ruled that Staker's action was an open-handed push to the chest in which he grabbed his opponent's guernsey and dismissed the report.
Contact between the Bulldog Luke Darcy and Adelaide's Kris Massie was reviewed. Massie gathers a loose ball as Darcy bumps him. Although some contact was high, considerable contact was made to the body. Darcy does not leave the ground during his bumping action. Darcy does not use his elbow as part of contact and runs in the same line as the ball and knocks it clear with the contact. Thus, the MRP deemed no charge was necessary.
Source: Melbourne Age; Herald Sun; Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release
Article last changed on Friday, September 07, 2007 - 1:21 AM EDT
