Round Six Tribunal Results

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Charges Laid:

Kyle Reimers (ESS), wrestling Collingwood's Dale Thomas: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to $900

Dale Thomas (COL), wrestling Kyle Reimers: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to $900

Josh Carr (FRE), kneeing Geelong's Gary Ablett: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 225 demerits and a two game suspension. His record of 4 games suspended over the past three years increases the penalty 40% for another 90 demerits. He also has 87.50 demerits held over from the past year, further increasing the penalty to 402.50 demerits and a four game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 301.88 demerits and a three game suspension.

Daniel Kerr (WCE), headbutting Bulldog Scott West: assessed as intentional conduct (three points), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points), equaling seven points, a Level Four offense, 325 demerits and a three game suspension. His record of four games suspended in the past three years increases the penalty 40% for another 130 demerits. He also has 46.78 demerits held over from the previous year for a total of 501.78 demerits and a five game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 376.34 demerits and a three game suspension.

Brent Staker (WCE), striking Bulldog Robert Murphy: 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 a clean record over the past five years, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits. He accepted, reducing the penalty a further 25% to 70.30 demerits and a reprimand.

Dylan Addison (WB), wrestling Daniel Kerr: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% TO $900

Daniel Kerr, wrestling Dylan Addison: fined $1200 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% TO $900

Chad Cornes (PA), striking St. Kilda's Jason Blake: 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. Had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand. 

Cornes took his case to the Tribunal but was unsuccessful in having the charge dismissed. Cornes argued he only raised his arm to shove Blake in a "show of strength" and that his arm slipped upward, making contact with Blake's neck. He also tried to argue that the blow was not hard enough to constitute a strike. Cornes' defense was not accepted and he was suspended for one match.

Cornes, who is set to miss 3-4 weeks with a broken finger, lost the 25% discount he would have received by accepting. Had he accepted, the penalty would have been reduced to 93.75 demerits and only a reprimand. Those demerits would have been added to any future offense and certain suspension. He will now have only 25 demerits held over after serving his suspension. However, should he offend again within the next 12 months, this suspension will see any penalty increased by 10%. Depending on the severity of any future offense, he could still escape with a reprimand which would give him a 25% discount with an early plea.

Even with an early plea, Cornes would still be ineligible for the Brownlow Medal as the original offense incurred more than 100 demerits.

Luke Ablett (SYD), making negligent contact with umpire Michael Avon: fined $2600 for a first offense. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to $1950.

Ben McGlynn (HAW), striking Richmond's Matthew White: assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points), equaling five points, a Level Two offense, 125 demerits and a one game suspension. He accepted, reducing the penalty 25% to 93.75 demerits and a reprimand.

The match day report against Essendon's Courtney Johns for rough conduct against Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury was assessed and dismissed. The Match Review Panel determined that Johns had eyes for the ball only as he leaped to attempt a mark (catch of the ball). It was then that Pendlebury cut in front of him to intercept the ball and Johns only put his hands up at the last moment to protect himself from the unavoidable contact.

The match day report against Carlton's Darren Pfeiffer for making front-on contact against Adelaide's Graham Johncock was reviewed and dismissed. The Match Review Panel determined that Johncock contributed to the high contact as he ducked at the last moment as Pfeiffer approached the contest.

Source: Patrick Keane, Club Media Release & Melburne Age