The AFL advises the Match Review of Tuesday’s Melbourne v Richmond match in Round Five has been completed. One charge has been laid with two other matters that required explanation.

Charges Laid:

Shane Edwards, Richmond, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Neville Jetta, Melbourne, during the second quarter of the Round Five match between Richmond and Melbourne, played at the MCG on Saturday April 21, 2018. 

In summary, he can accept a $2000 sanction with an early plea. 

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Melbourne Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the head. The incident was classified as a $3000 sanction. The player can accept a $2000 sanction without appearing before the Tribunal.

Incidents assessed:

The match day report laid against Melbourne’s Bernie Vince for striking Richmond’s Brandon Ellis was assessed. Ellis has the ball and sees Vince coming towards him to tackle. Ellis handballs to a Richmond teammate as Vince lays a careless high tackle. Ellis ducks out of the tackle and avoids significant high contact. The umpire paid a free kick at the time, gave advantage to the Richmond player with the ball and reported Vince. After receiving a medical report, speaking to the umpire who laid the report and viewing all available footage, it was the view of the Match Review Officer that the high contact made was below the level required for a charge to be laid.

Contact between Melbourne’s James Harmes and Richmond’s Bachar Houli from the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s match was assessed. Houli takes a mark on the wing as Harmes makes late, high contact from behind. The umpire paid a 50-metre penalty at the time for the contact. It was the view of the Match Review Officer that the incident was dealt with on-field at the time and the impact was below the force required for a charge to be laid.