Charges Laid:
Pearce Hanley, Brisbane Lions, has been charged with a Level One engaging in rough conduct offence (125 demerit points, one match) for engaging in rough conduct against Daniel Giansiracusa, Western Bulldogs, during the third quarter of the Round One match between the Brisbane Lions and the Western Bulldogs, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday March 30, 2013.
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 Western Bulldogs Football Club, the incident was assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point). This is a total of three 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 sanction by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record.
Colin Sylvia, Melbourne, has been charged with a Level Two striking offence (125 demerit points, one match) for striking Justin Westhoff, Port Adelaide, during the fourth quarter of the Round One match between Melbourne and Port Adelaide, played at the MCG on Sunday March 31, 2013.
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 Port Adelaide Football Club, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). 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 two matches suspended within the last two years, but this penalty does not impact for a further bad record. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record.
Other Incidents Assessed:
The match day report laid against Carlton's Chris Yarran for striking Richmond's Bachar Houli from the third quarter of Thursday's match was assessed. After viewing all available footage, receiving a medical report from the Richmond Football Club and speaking to the umpire who laid the report on the day, it was the view of the panel the force used was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.
The match day report laid against the GWS Giants' Tom Scully for tripping the Sydney Swans' Rhyce Shaw from the first quarter of Saturday's match was assessed. After viewing all available footage and speaking to the umpire who laid the report on the day, it was the view of the panel the impact was below the level required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.
The match day report laid against the Gold Coast Suns' Jared Brennan for striking St Kilda's Stephen Milne from the third quarter of Saturday's match was assessed. After viewing all available footage, receiving a medical report from the St Kilda Football Club and speaking to the umpire who laid the report on the day, it was the view of the panel that Brennan's actions were a legitimate attempt to spoil the ball in a marking contest and the contact made was not a reportable action. No further action was taken.
Contact between the Sydney Swans' Kieren Jack and the GWS Giants' Stephen Coniglio from the third quarter of Saturday's match was assessed. It was the view of the panel the force used was below that required to constitute a report. No further action was taken.
Contact between North Melbourne's Lindsay Thomas and Collingwood's Ben Reid from the third quarter of Sunday's match was assessed. The ball was loose in the North Melbourne forward line. Reid is pursuring North Melbourne's Lachlan Hansen towards the ball when Thomas comes across the Collingwood player's line to legitimately block him within five metres of the ball. Thomas did not leave the ground to jump into his opponent when seeking to shepherd for his teammate, as per the guidelines on the Tribunal DVD examples, and the contact made was primarily with the shoulder to the body, with a clash of heads occurring as part of the collision. After viewing all available footage, it was the view of the panel the contact to the head was caused by circumstances outside the control of the player, which could not be reasonably foreseen. The MRP guidelines from Page 12 of the 2013 Tribunal handbook are attached below:
1. Rough Conduct (High Bumps)
The Player Rules provide that a player will be guilty of rough conduct where in the bumping of an opponent (whether reasonably or unreasonably) he causes forceful contact to be made with any part of his body to an opponent's head or neck unless a). the player was contesting the ball and did not have a realistic alternative way to contest the ball; or b). the forceful contact to the head or neck was caused by circumstances outside the control of the player which could not reasonably be foreseen.
In the interests of player safety, the purpose of the rule dealing with high bumps is to reduce, as far as practicable, the risk of head injuries to players and this purpose needs to be kept firmly in mind by all players and will guide the application of the rule.
In the first week of round one, the Match Review Panel reviewed the weekend's matches. The following charges were laid:
Charges Laid:
Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, has been charged with a level one engaging in rough conduct offence (125 demerit points, one match) for engaging in rough conduct against Scott Selwood, West Coast, during the first quarter of the round one match between Fremantle and West Coast, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 23, 2013.
In summary, he previous poor record means that his one-match sanction must remain at a one-match sanction with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the West Coast 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 three matches suspended within the last two years, increasing the penalty by 10 per cent to 137.50 points. He also has 33.13 points carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 170.63 points and a one-match sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 127.97 points and a one-match sanction.
Other Incidents Assessed:
The match day report laid against Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich for engaging in rough conduct against West Coast's Will Schofield from the second quarter of Saturday's match was assessed. The ball was kicked by a Fremantle player to the leading Pavlich when West Coast's Will Schofield came across the front of the contest to intercept the mark. Pavlich jumped into the air to mark the ball and had left the ground to contest the ball before it had reached player Schofield. Pavlich braced for contact when he realised he would not take the mark and contact occurred. A free kick and 50m penalty was awarded to Schofield. After viewing all available footage and speaking to the umpire who laid the report on the day, it was the view of the panel that his actions did not constitute a reportable offence.
