AFL Match Review Panel for Round 2, 2012

Before yesterday, the story I would have probably gone with either the brawl in the Tigers and Pies match or the Beau Waters bump and how luck he was, but today after the Cats vs Hawks match on Easter Monday, Brendon Whitecross was charged with rough conduct for a bump on Joel Selwood. When I look at the AFL and some of the decisions that are made, I think there is often cases that I would refer to as “Edge Cases”. By that I mean cases that fall on the edge of the law. Ones that either just enough to go over the line and trigger a rule even though the punished party is mighty unlucky or on the other side of the edge, the party gets of and is luck to get off. Then you argue you should let guilty part off, but that moves the edge creating a new series of cases that are just on the wrong side and so should be let off again moving the edge. You can see the cycle.

But back to Brendan. I thought at the time at the game the bump looked a bit off but might of been fine as there was a third player involved, that at initial looks, pushed Selwood into Whitey but on further inspection and on the further angles presented by the AFL site Whitecross gets up and as Selwood is moving towards him, he sets and moves towards Selwood with a arm/shoulder charge. Things happen at such a pace and perhaps that could be a defense if the report is challenged that Whitey had no other opportunity to do anything else as Selwood was bearing down on him and he had no time to react properly. I really think the Hawk will take the punishment and walkaway. The risk of a second game is probably too much to risk.

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AFL Tribunal Update:

The news from the Tribunal is that Brendan Whitecross got off at the tribunal. Will add more information when it comes to hand.

AFL Tribunal, 5pm, Wednesday April 11:

Brendan Whitecross, Hawthorn, has been charged with a Level Two engaging in rough conduct offence against Joel Selwood, Geelong Cats, during the fourth quarter of the Round Two match between Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats, played at the MCG on Monday April 9, 2012.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Geelong Cats Football Club, the incident was assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He no existing good or bad record.

Charges Laid (out of Easter Monday Game):

Brendan Whitecross, Hawthorn, has been charged with a Level Two engaging in rough conduct offence against Joel Selwood, Geelong Cats, during the fourth quarter of the Round Two match between Hawthorn and the Geelong Cats, played at the MCG on Monday April 9, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction 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 negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He no existing good or bad record. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 168.75 points and a one-match sanction.

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Match Review Panel Video

Sanctions Accepted:

Jack Redden, Brisbane Lions, has accepted a $900 sanction for wrestling Mitch Robinson, Carlton, during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, played at the Gabba on Thursday April 5, 2012.

Mitch Robinson, Carlton, has accepted a $900 sanction for wrestling Jack Redden, Brisbane Lions, during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, played at the Gabba on Thursday April 5, 2012.

Sam Lonergan, Essendon, has accepted a one-match sanction for engaging in rough conduct against Travis Boak, Port Adelaide, during the fourth quarter of the Round Two match between Essendon and Port Adelaide, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Beau Waters, West Coast, has accepted a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record for engaging in rough conduct against Jack Grimes, Melbourne, during the second quarter of the Round Two match between West Coast and Melbourne, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Alex Rance, Richmond, has accepted an $1800 sanction for being the instigator of a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Jake King, Richmond, has accepted a $3000 sanction for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Alex Rance, Richmond, has accepted a $1200 sanction for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Shane Tuck, Richmond, has accepted a $1200 sanction for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Jake Batchelor, Richmond, has accepted a $1200 sanction for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Heath Shaw, Collingwood, has accepted a $2100 sanction for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Collingwood and Richmond, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Dayne Beams, Collingwood, has accepted a $2100 sanction for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Collingwood and Richmond, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Darren Jolly, Collingwood, has accepted a $1200 sanction for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Collingwood and Richmond, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

Charges Laid:

Mitch Robinson, Carlton, has been charged with a first offence for wrestling Jack Redden, Brisbane Lions, during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, played at the Gabba on Thursday April 5, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for wrestling is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.

Jack Redden, Brisbane Lions, has been charged with a first offence for wrestling Mitch Robinson, Carlton, during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Carlton and the Brisbane Lions, played at the Gabba on Thursday April 5, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for wrestling is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.

Sam Lonergan, Essendon, has been charged with a Level Two engaging in rough conduct offence against Travis Boak, Port Adelaide, during the fourth quarter of the Round Two match between Essendon and Port Adelaide, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction 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 negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-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 247.50 points. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 185.63 points and a one-match sanction.

Beau Waters, West Coast, has been charged with a Level One engaging in rough conduct offence against Jack Grimes, Melbourne, during the second quarter of the Round Two match between West Coast and Melbourne, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday April 7, 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 Melbourne Football Club, the incident was assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). 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 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.

Alex Rance, Richmond, has been charged with a First Offence for being the instigator of a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept an $1800 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for being the instigator of a melee is a $2400 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to an $1800 sanction.

Jake King, Richmond, has been charged with a Third Offence for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $3000 sanction with an early plea.

A third offence for engaging in a melee is a $4000 sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to a $3000 sanction.

Alex Rance, Richmond, has been charged with a First Offence for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.

Shane Tuck, Richmond, has been charged with a First Offence for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.

Jake Batchelor, Richmond, has been charged with a First Offence for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Richmond and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.

Heath Shaw, Collingwood, has been charged with a Second Offence for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Collingwood and Richmond, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $2100 sanction with an early plea.

A second offence for engaging in a melee is a $2800 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $2100 sanction.

Dayne Beams, Collingwood, has been charged with a Second Offence for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Collingwood and Richmond, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $2100 sanction with an early plea.

A second offence for engaging in a melee is a $2800 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $2100 sanction.

Darren Jolly, Collingwood, has been charged with a First Offence for engaging in a melee during the second quarter of the Round Two match between Collingwood and Richmond, played at the MCG on Saturday April 7, 2012.

In summary, he can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for engaging in a melee is a $1600 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $1200 sanction.

Other incidents Assessed:

The match day report against the Brisbane Lions’ Jack Redden for striking Carlton’s Dennis Armfield was assessed. Armfield has disposed of the ball when Redden makes late contact. After viewing all available footage, speaking to the umpire who laid the report on the day and receiving a medical report from the Carlton Football Club, it was the view of the panel the initial contact was to Armfield’s shoulder region with the inside of Redden’s arm. The high contact made was below the force required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.

Contact between Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich and the Sydney Swans’ Nick Malceski from the fourth quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. The ball was kicked into Fremantle’s forward line and Malceski and Pavlich are both running towards the loose ball when Pavlich bumps Malceski. After viewing all available footage and receiving a medical report from the Sydney Swans Football Club, it was the view of the panel there was no forceful high contact made and the bumping action was not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.

Contact between the Gold Coast Suns’ Tom Lynch and St Kilda’s Jarryn Geary from the first quarter of Sunday’s match was assessed. Geary is bending down to collect the ball when Lynch makes ffrontal contact. After viewing all available footage and receiving a medical report from the St Kilda Football Club, it was the view of the panel the majority of the force was to Geary’s shoulder and back and there was no forceful high contact made. No further action was taken.