The AFL wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed the matches played in Round 15 of the 2016 Toyota AFL premiership season. The following charges were laid:

Charges Laid:

David Zaharakis, Essendon, has been charged with striking Jackson Nelson, West Coast, during the second quarter of the Round 15 match between Essendon and West Coast, played at Domain Stadium on Thursday June 30, 2016.

In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the West Coast Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct with medium impact to the body. The incident was classified as a two-match sanction. The player has no applicable record which impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a one-match sanction.

As an advisory note to all media, the MRP assessed the impact as medium for this offence on the basis the player had to be assisted from the ground, was off the ground for some period of play and an adverse medical report.

Mark Jamar, Essendon, has been charged with striking Jeremy McGovern, West Coast, during the third quarter of the Round 15 match between Essendon and West Coast, played at Domain Stadium on Thursday June 30, 2016.

In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the West Coast Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the head. The incident was classified as a two-match sanction. The player has no applicable record which impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a one-match sanction.

Kane Mitchell, Port Adelaide, has been charged with wrestling Trent Cotchin, Richmond, at the end of the first quarter of the Round 15 match between Port Adelaide and Richmond, played at Adelaide Oval on Friday July 1, 2016.

In summary, his $1500 sanction can be reduced to a $1000 sanction with an early guilty plea.

A first offence for wrestling was classified as a $1500 sanction. The player has no applicable record which impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.

Jack Riewoldt, Richmond, has been charged with wrestling Kane Mitchell, Port Adelaide, at the end of the first quarter of the Round 15 match between Richmond and Port Adelaide, played at Adelaide Oval on Friday July 1, 2016.

In summary, his $1500 sanction can be reduced to a $1000 sanction with an early guilty plea.

A first offence for wrestling was classified as a $1500 sanction. The player has no applicable record which impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.

Jasper Pittard, Port Adelaide, has been charged with a second offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the Round 15 match between Port

Adelaide and Richmond, played at the Adelaide Oval on Friday July 1, 2016. 

In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.

A second offence for being involved in a melee is a $2500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1500 sanction.

Justin Westhoff, Port Adelaide, has been charged with a first offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the Round 15 match between Port

Adelaide and Richmond, played at the Adelaide Oval on Friday July 1, 2016.

In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for being involved in a melee is a $1500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction. 

Trent Cotchin, Richmond, has been charged with a first offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the Round 15 match between Richmond and Port Adelaide, played at Adelaide Oval on Friday July 1, 2016.

In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for being involved in a melee is a $1500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.

Dale Thomas, Carlton, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against James Aish, Collingwood, during the fourth quarter of the Round 15 match between Carlton and Collingwood, played at the MCG on Saturday July 2, 2016.

In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Collingwood Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the head. The incident was the second classifiable incident for the player and was therefore classified as a $2500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1500 sanction.

Other incidents assessed

Contact between Port Adelaide’s Darcy Byrne-Jones and Richmond’s Brett Deledio from the second quarter of Friday’s match was assessed. The panel said Deledio took possession of the ball and was tackled by Byrne-Jones. Byrne-Jones took the Richmond player to ground, rotating him in the tackle, for which a free kick should have been awarded to Deledio. While the infringement for the tackle was missed, it was the view of the panel the force used in the tackle was below that required for a reportable offence. No further action was taken.

Contact between the Gold Coast Suns’ Tom Lynch and St Kilda’s Tom Lee from the fourth quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Lee was preparing to mark with Lynch behind him, seeking to make a contest. As Lee sought to complete the mark, Lynch went to spoil the ball. The Gold Coast player made initial contact with the ball before making high contact with his opponent. A free kick was paid to Lee for the high contact. It was the view of the panel Lynch’s action was a legitimate attempt to spoil as he made initial contact with the ball. No further action was taken.