AFL Match Review Panel – Round 1, 2012
(Note: Update section below has important information on the Scarlett carryover points)
Imagine if you were arrested for murder for swatting a fly. I reckon that’s how Matty Scarlett would be feeling after he was reported for striking Fremantles Hayden Ballantyne in the third quarter loss to the Dockers. After the leagues favourite to be the All-Australian pest, if such a position was invented, was in All-Australian form, Scarlett had had enough, looked at the schedule in his pocket and saw Buddy next week, and decide it was as good a time as ever to put the pest in his place. You can’t do that and he will miss at best a week, but more likely more! He has a 20% loading by my calculations and possibly a 54.69 point hang over (depending if you count them coming off his record at the start of round1 or end after an incident in round one last year).
The Tribunal document describes year as: “The preceding number of AFL years is defined as the equivalent round in the relevant previous year of the pre-season competition or the home and away competition.” which doesn’t help us any. I will update the article with a clarification of the ruling if I am able to get one. Lets look at possible point offerings.
Lets assume that the punch is intentional because, it looked like he meant it too me. So for this argument, lets assume intentional. We can also assume it was high as he hit the jaw. So now we have to work out the impact and what it means on a points/weeks basis (note: figures in brackets are the numbers if the carry over points haven’t expired). If the impact is low, that will be a Level 3 strike and 225 points. With the 20% loading it will come to 270 (324) and if he takes an early plea it will be 202pts/2 weeks (243/1wk). If it is marked as Medium impact it becomes a Level 4 and 325pts and with penalty 390 (444). With early plea it comes down to 292pts/2wks (333/3weeks). Now if the unlikely event it becomes high impact (and I will touch on this in a minute), it will be classified as Level 5 and 425 base points. With penalty it becomes 510(564) and with early plea become 382pts/3 Weeks (423/4wks). So the impact will be important.
Now I said I would touch on the impact and why although it seemed that the impact wasn’t that much at all (although well acted by Hayden) it could be higher then you think. Here is an interesting piece in the Trinbunal document under the section on
“Classification of certain strikes”:
Impact: Notwithstanding any other part of these guidelines, any reckless or intentional strike which is of an inherently dangerous kind and/or where there is a potential to cause serious injury (such as a strike with a raised elbow or forearm) will not be classified as “low impact” under the Rules even though the extent of the actual physical impact may be low. Such strikes will be classified at a higher level commensurate with the nature and extent of the risk of serious injury involved.
So it could be this is pushed out to medium impact and either 2 or 3 weeks (depending on hang over points) but personally I doubt it gets to high were big weeks will be missed.
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What are your thoughts on the incident? How many weeks do you think he will get? For those who haven’t seen it, here is the vision:
UPDATES
- No updates at this time but of course there were other match day reports and I will report on them and any other cases looked at (which could include a tackle by Buddy Franklin) so keep this page handy.
- Mon 11:15am: Have just had an update from the AFL with a ruling on the carry over points. They stay on the players record till the same round the next year. Once that round is over, they go away. So in this case, Scarlett’s 54 pts stay until round 1, 2012 and then at the start of Round 2, they are gone (assuming no offenses in that year). With that, I think that Scarlett is looking at a 3 week holiday and a future loading of 50% for future incidents!
- Mon 12:08pm: Have updated with the Match day reports. Personally haven’t seen the Kelly or Wright issues but Pods should get off. Will update with the Match Review Findings later in the day when they are available
- Mon 5:10pm: Ballantyne can accept 2, Scarlett 3, Kelly a rep, Pollo 1 week!
- Mon 5:26pm: Full list of details are now available
- Tues 10:42am: No tribunal this week. Everyone accepted there penalties.
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Match Day Reports
Jarrad Waite, Carlton, reported by umpire Simon Meredith for bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Dylan Grimes, Richmond, during the first quarter of the Round One match between Carlton and Richmond, played at the MCG on Thursday March 29, 2012.
James Kelly, Geelong Cats, reported by umpire Nathan Doig for striking Tendai Mzungu, Fremantle, during the first quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
James Podsiadly, Geelong Cats, reported by umpire Dean Margetts for striking Nick Suban, Fremantle, during the first quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
Matthew Scarlett, Geelong Cats, reported by umpire Dean Margetts for striking Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, during the third quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
Sam Wright, North Melbourne, reported by umpire Matt Stevic for charging Brent Stanton, Essendon, during the second quarter of the Round One match between North Melbourne and Essendon, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
Charges Laid:
James Kelly, Geelong Cats, has been charged with a Level Two striking offence against Tendai Mzungu, Fremantle, during the first quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
In summary, he can accept a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Fremantle Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has no existing good or bad record. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record.
Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, has been charged with a Level Three striking offence against Paul Chapman, Geelong Cats, during the first quarter of the Round One match between Fremantle and the Geelong Cats, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
In summary, due to his previous poor record, his two-match sanction must remain at two matches, even with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Geelong Cats Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), medium impact (two points) and body contact (one point). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Three offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of two matches suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty by 20 per cent to 270 demerit points and a two-match sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent 202.50 points and a two-match sanction.
Matthew Scarlett, Geelong Cats, has been charged with a Level Four striking offence against Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, during the third quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
In summary, due to his previous poor record, his three-match sanction must remain at three matches, even with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Fremantle Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total if seven activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Four offence, drawing 325 demerit points and a three-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of two matches suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty by 20 per cent to 390 demerit points, and he also has 54.69 demerit points carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 444.69 points and a four-match sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 333.52 points and a three-match sanction.
Dean Polo, St Kilda, has been charged with a Level One engaging in rough conduct offence against Danyle Pearce, Port Adelaide, during the second quarter of the Round One match between ST Kilda and Port Adelaide, played at AAMI Stadium on Sunday April 1, 2012.
In summary, due to his previous poor record, his one-match sanction must remain at one match, even with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Port Adelaide Football Club, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point). This is a total of four activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level One offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of one match suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty by 10 per cent to 137.50 demerit points, and he also has 66 demerit points carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 203.50 points and a two-match sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent 152.63 points and a one-match sanction.
Other incidents Assessed:
The match day report against Carlton’s Jarrad Waite for making forceful contact from front-on against Richmond’s Dylan Grimes was assessed. The ball was kicked into the Carlton forward line and Grimes dived forward to contest the ball. As he picked up the ball and regained his feet, he was met by Waite, who was coming from the other direction. Waite has his arms down preparing to tackle when contact is made. After viewing all available footage and speaking to the umpire who laid the report, it was the view of the panel that Waite had no real alternative way to contest the ball. No further action was taken.
The match day report against the Geelong Cats’ James Podsiadly for striking Fremantle’s Nick Suban was assessed. Player Podsiadly had been involved in a brief scuffle with Fremantle’s Aaron Sandilands and the pair had then parted. As the players moved apart, player Suban came towards Podsiadly and the Geelong player fended him off. After viewing all available footage, receiving a medical report and speaking to the umpire who laid the report, it was the view of the panel that the force used was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.
The match day report against North Melbourne’s Sam Wright for charging Essendon’s Brent Stanton was assessed. Essendon’s Nathan Lovett-Murray had passed the ball to team mate Stanton. As Stanton is completing the mark, Wright arrives and makes body contact. After viewing all available footage, receiving a medical report and speaking to the umpire who laid the report, it was the view of the panel that the force used was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.
Contact between Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin and Collingwood’s Tyson Goldsack from the first quarter of Friday’s match was assessed. Goldsack has picked up the ball and is immediately tackled by Franklin. Franklin goes to ground in the tackle and has his arms around Goldsack’s waist, while the Collingwood player has both of his arms free. As Goldsack is being taken to ground, he disposes of the ball with a handball and does not brace for contact with the ground. Contact by Goldsack with the ground is made with his hip and upper body and not with his head or neck. After viewing all available footage and receiving a medical report, it was the view of the panel that the tackle was not unreasonable in the circumstances and that Goldsack was not driven into the ground with excessive force. No further action was taken.
Contact between Essendon’s Mark McVeigh and North Melbourne’s Jamie McMillan from the first quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. The pair of players are running forward to the Essendon goal with the ball set to be kicked at goal by Essendon’s Dyson Heppell. McVeigh is trying to beat his opponent forward and makes contact with his arm. Based on the limited video evidence available and a medical report, it could not be determined that a reportable offence had occurred. No further action was taken.
Contact between North Melbourne’s Lindsay Thomas and a boundary umpire from the first quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Player Thomas is on the boundary line when he is pushed by an Essendon opponent and falls backwards. As he falls, he makes contact with the boundary umpire, who had run towards the area to collect the ball. It was the view of the panel that there was no negligence on behalf of the players, as they were unaware of the umpire’s proximity. No further action was taken.
Sanctions Accepted:
James Kelly, Geelong Cats, has accepted a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record for striking Tendai Mzungu, Fremantle, during the first quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, has accepted a two-match sanction for striking Paul Chapman, Geelong Cats, during the first quarter of the Round One match between Fremantle and the Geelong Cats, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
Matthew Scarlett, Geelong Cats, has accepted a three-match sanction for striking Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, during the third quarter of the Round One match between the Geelong Cats and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 31, 2012.
Dean Polo, St Kilda, has accepted a one-match sanction for engaging in rough conduct offence against Danyle Pearce, Port Adelaide, during the second quarter of the Round One match between ST Kilda and Port Adelaide, played at AAMI Stadium on Sunday April 1, 2012.
[...] Matthew Scarlett hit Hayden Ballentyne on the weekend (follow the link for video). How many weeks do you think he will get, if any? [...]