Round 5 Tribunal Results

 by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

TRIBUNAL
Charges Laid:      

Leigh Montagna (STK), wrestling Essendon's Andrew Lovett: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900..

Andrew Lovett (ESS), wrestling Leigh Montagna: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the fine 25% to $900..

Daniel Pratt (NM), rough conduct against Collingwood's Josh Fraser: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two offense,  225 demerits and a two game suspension. His clean record over the past five years reduces the penalty 25% to 168.75 demerits and a one game suspension.  

Pratt took his case to the Tribunal with the defense that he made only "slight" contact to the head of Josh Fraser and that most of the contact was to Fraser's body. His advocate attempted to have the classification downgraded from minimal to low impact but to no avail. Reporting umpire Hayden Kennedy testified that such contact when one player is trying to spoil (prevent an opponent from catching the ball) is fairly common in such contests. The panel did not accept the arguments, upholding the one game suspension.

Matthew Whelan (MELB), striking Carlton's Brendan Fevola: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points), equaling six points, a Level Three offense, 225 demerits and a two game suspension. He has an existing record of one match suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty 10% to 247.50. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 185.63 demerits and a one game suspension.   

Chad Fletcher WCE), making negligent contact with umpire Hayden Ryan: fined $2600 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to $1950. 

The match day report against the Brisbane's Jonathan Brown for charging Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell was assessed and dismissed by the Match Review Panel. The panel ruled that Brown was attempting to get to the contest for the ball, then slowed and turned his body when he realized contact would be unavoidable. As he turned, he placed his open hand on Mitchell's back in an attempt to lessen the contact.

The match day report against Carlton's Bret Thornton for striking Melbourne's Clint Bartram was assessed and dismissed. The panel ruled that there was no strike.  

The match day report against Melbourne's Matthew Whelan for striking Carlton's Brendan Fevola was assessed. The charge was withdrawn as Whelan's elbow did not make contact with Fevola.

Source: Patrick Keane, Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release & Melbourne Age