Lynch beats charge at tribunal

Updated September 11, 2012 19:51:27

West Coast key forward Quinten Lynch is available for Saturday night's qualifying final against Collingwood after a win at the tribunal.

Following a one-hour hearing, the jury took 10 minutes to decide they were not satisfied Lynch had charged North Melbourne defender Scott McMahon.

Given Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell has accepted a two-match ban for rough conduct, the Eagles will use Lynch in an effort to exploit the weakened Magpies defence.

West Coast brought in a biomechanist as part of their defence against the charging offence, a strategy now rarely used at the tribunal.

If found guilty, Lynch would have received a one-match suspension.

Lynch cannoned into McMahon's back when arriving late at a marking contest during the 96-point win over North Melbourne in last Sunday's elimination final at Subiaco Oval.

He claimed he made a lead of about 45 metres from centre half-forward to the wing.

Lynch said his entire focus was on attempting to mark and he thought he would reach the drop of the ball in time to do so.

He said he was not even sure that McMahon would contest the mark, a statement tribunal counsel Jeff Gleeson asserted was "false evidence", although Lynch stood by it under cross-examination.

Lynch said the blustery conditions at Subiaco Oval meant the ball dropped more quickly than he anticipated, which explained why he did not end up reaching the ball.

He stated his action in jumping and lifting his leg into McMahon's back was simply his normal marking motion.

Lynch's advocate Mark Gibson submitted a series of 20 still photographs to help illustrate the point that Lynch first made contact with McMahon at the same time McMahon's hands first touched the ball.

He also called University of Western Australia professor of biomechanics Tim Ackland, who said research showed that a person needed at least 0.4 seconds to change the motion of their body once they became aware of a change in circumstances.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, St Kilda Leigh Montagna failed to overturn a rough conduct charge and he will start next season with a one-match ban.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, perth-6000

First posted September 11, 2012 19:51:27

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Demon Howe to face blood-wiping charge

Updated July 23, 2012 16:40:50

Melbourne forward Jeremy Howe has been sent directly to the AFL tribunal over a charge of wiping his blood on an opponent's shorts.

Howe cannot make an early guilty plea, and must front the tribunal over the unusual offence.

The match review panel has charged Howe with wiping blood from his knee on Port Adelaide player Tom Jonas' shorts in the Demons' loss to Port in Darwin at the weekend.

Geelong defender Matthew Scarlett has been offered a one-match ban for striking Essendon's Corey Dell'Olio.

If he accepts the suspension, he will miss the Cats' clash with Adelaide at Kardinia Park on Saturday.

Eighteen players have been fined a total of $27,000 over the quarter-time melee in the Richmond-North Melbourne match at the MCG on Sunday.

Tigers Shane Tuck, Alex Rance, Dustin Martin, Luke McGuane, Chris Newman, Matt Dea, Reece Conca, Jayden Post, Steven Morris, Brandon Ellis and Kelvin Moore will pay between $1,200 and $2,100 if they make early guilty pleas to involvement in a melee.

North's Michael Firrito and Jamie MacMillan will receive $2,100 fines, with Drew Petrie, Robbie Tarrant, Daniel Wells, Sam Wright and Lindsay Thomas facing $1,200 sanctions if they make early guilty pleas.

Richmond's Brett Deledio has been fined $1,950 over an abusive language charge in a separate incident.

All have until lunchtime Tuesday to decide whether to contest their charges at the AFL tribunal.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted July 23, 2012 16:35:19

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Buddy cleared of sling tackle charge

Updated June 12, 2012 14:22:26

Hawthorn can breathe a sigh of relief after star forward Lance Franklin was cleared by the AFL's match review panel of a sling tackle.

Franklin, who leads the Coleman Medal goalkicking list from Richmond's Jack Riewoldt, was put on report for his tackle on Port Adelaide's Paul Stewart in the final quarter of the Hawks' win on Sunday.

The Hawthorn spearhead threw Stewart to the ground after the Port player lost possession of the ball in a similar incident to that involving Adelaide's Taylor Walker three weeks ago which cost the Crow a two-match ban.

The panel found that Franklin did not have both of Stewart's arms pinned in his tackle and took his opponent to the ground in one continuous motion.

It also found the tackle was not unreasonable and Franklin did not use excessive force.

He will now be eligible to play in the Hawks' next match against Brisbane at the MCG on Sunday.

Essendon's Aaron Davey has been given a three-match ban by the panel for his bump on Sydney's Daniel Hannebery in the third quarter of the Bomber's loss to the Swans.

Davey can accept a two-match ban with an early plea.

The Fremantle Docker's Hayden Ballantyne has been rubbed out for the second time this season, receiving a one-match ban for striking Richmond's Chris Newman.

His Dockers' team-mate Ryan Crowley, who last week was reprimanded for staging, can accept a $900 fine with an early plea for making an obscene gesture during Fremantle's win over Richmond.

Geelong's Josh Hunt can accept a $1350 fine for standing on Carlton's Eddie Betts in the Cats' Friday night win over the Blues at Docklands.

Hawthorn's Liam Shiels and Port Adelaide's Danyle Pearce have been charged with wrestling in Sunday's match at Football Park. Both players can accept a $900 fine with an early plea.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted June 11, 2012 15:00:15

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Dane Swan fights trip charge at tribunal

Updated June 13, 2012 13:21:12

Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan will attempt to keep his clean disciplinary record when he fights his reprimand on a tripping charge at the AFL tribunal next week.

Collingwood midfielder Swan will contest the charge over an incident involving Melbourne's Sam Blease during the Pies' 42-point win on Monday at the MCG.

Swan would receive a reprimand and demerit points for the offence if found guilty.

But he has decided to challenge the match review panel's findings despite no chance of a suspension.

Either way, the tribunal's decision will have no impact on his Brownlow Medal chances this year, as the incident does not carry enough demerit points to rule him out of contention for the AFL's best and fairest award.

The Magpies have the bye this weekend and are at a training camp in far north Queensland, meaning the Swan case will be heard next week.

Meanwhile, Melbourne utility Luke Tapscott will miss the Demons' round 13 match against Greater Western Sydney after accepting a one-match sanction.

Tapscott received the ban for striking Collingwood's Alex Fasolo in the third quarter of the Queen's Birthday clash.

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Tags: australian-football-league, sport, collingwood-3066, vic, australia

First posted June 13, 2012 13:21:12

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Jetta to challenge striking charge

Updated May 22, 2012 12:24:14

Essendon forward Leroy Jetta will challenge a one-match ban for striking at the tribunal on Tuesday night.

Jetta was booked by the match review panel for a punch to the stomach of Richmond defender Dylan Grimes during Saturday night's clash at the MCG.

Due to his previous poor disciplinary record, Jetta could not get the one-match ban reduced with an early guilty plea.

But he has pleaded guilty to a separate charge of staging in an attempt to draw a free kick and been issued with a written reprimand.

Western Bulldogs' utility Dylan Addison has accepted a one-match ban for striking Gold Coast livewire Harley Bennell.

Greater Western Sydney's Toby Greene will miss Saturday's clash against the Bombers after pleading guilty to a rough conduct charge involving Brisbane's Jed Adcock.

North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey has accepted a reprimand and 93.75 carryover points for striking young Port Adelaide star Chad Wingard.

Kangaroos' team-mate Lindsay Thomas was fined $900 for making an obscene gesture in the narrow loss to the Power.

In another incident from the same match, Port's Jackson Trengove accepted a reprimand and 93.75 points for making forceful front-on contact against Kieran Harper.

West Coast's Daniel Kerr has been fined $900 for making negligent contact with an umpire during Sunday's win over St Kilda.

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First posted May 22, 2012 12:24:14

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Docker Broughton to fight sliding charge

Updated May 08, 2012 12:01:10

Fremantle's Greg Broughton is risking a one-match suspension when he heads to a tribunal hearing tonight appealing a rough conduct charge against David Swallow.

Broughton could have accepted a fine for sliding into a challenge with the Gold Coast midfielder.

Adam Goodes was suspended in preseason and again for a regular season match for this offence but the Dockers believe Broughton's slide was more similar to North Melbourne Lindsay Thomas' challenge with Sydney's Gary Rohan.

Although Rohan received a broken leg from the incident, a tribunal hearing upheld Thomas' appeal that the contact was accidental.

All other players charged over the weekend's actions accepted sanctions with West Coast forward Ashton Hams banned for two games and Adelaide ruckman Shaun McKernan sitting out for one.

Port's Travis Boak and Shaun Hampson of Carlton have both received fines of $1,800 from the Match Review Panel.

Hams, who struck Kangaroo Andrew Swallow (older brother of David), and McKernan - who hit Sydney's Alex Johnson - would not have been able to reduce their suspensions due to previous disciplinary issues.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, fremantle-6160

First posted May 08, 2012 11:57:46

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Montagna striking charge dropped by AFL

Updated May 01, 2012 18:47:15

The AFL match review panel has suffered another blow to its credibility with St Kilda onballer Leigh Montagna beating his charge in remarkable circumstances.

Only a couple of hours before Montagna was due at the tribunal, the AFL announced the withdrawal of his striking charge.

Montagna was risking a three-match suspension by challenging the charge.

Tribunal counsel Jeff Gleeson SC recommended the unprecedented decision after Montagna and Melbourne opponent James Magner spoke to him about their clash during Saturday night's game at the MCG.

While the match review panel had booked Montagna for hitting the Demon, the two players told Gleeson the only significant contact in their scuffle was an accidental knee to Magner's cheek.

Magner had to leave the field briefly under the blood rule because of the contact.

It is the first time since the introduction of the current tribunal system in 2005 that, after a player has decided to mount a challenge, the AFL has withdrawn the charge before the hearing.

The panel was already under fire this week after Brisbane tagger Andrew Raines was cleared for his contact with Joel Selwood as the Geelong captain went for the ball in Saturday night's game.

Selwood was also cleared for an incident later in the match where he hit Raines, but the Lion accepted a one-game ban for hitting him back.

Adelaide forward Taylor Walker escaped with a reprimand for kneeing Port Adelaide's Jacob Surjan.

Another aspect of the Montagna case is that it continues an unlikely run of success for players at the tribunal in the past few weeks.

Geelong's Steve Johnson, North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas and Hawthorn utility Brendan Whitecross have all beaten rough conduct charges at the tribunal, which goes against the trend of the past few seasons.

Magner went on Twitter to welcome the withdrawal of Montagna's charge.

"Glad to see Montagna cleared, was an accident and I'm glad it's all worked out well," he posted.

Gleeson spoke to the two players after St Kilda informed the league it would call Magner as a witness - an unusual tactic in the current system.

"Montagna and Magner both informed me that the only significant contact from Montagna to Magner was contact from Montagna's knee to the cheek of Magner," Gleeson said in an AFL statement.

"They both said that Magner pulled Montagna to the ground and in the course of, or immediately after, that happening, Montagna's knee accidentally knocked Magner's cheek.

"I conducted a further review of the video evidence in light of this explanation and it is consistent with the explanation.

"In particular, Magner's pained response is immediate and noticeable and is coincident with the time at which the knee appears to have made contact with his face."

Gleeson decided there was "no reasonable prospect" that the tribunal jury would find that Montagna had struck Magner.

It is a massive win for the Saints, who face a tough month of matches.

After Saturday night's clash against out-of-form Hawthorn, they will play Carlton, West Coast away and Sydney at home.

Western Bulldogs utility Patrick Veszpremi has accepted a reprimand and 93.75 carry-over points for making contact with the head of Greater Western Sydney youngster Tomas Bugg, who earned the round-five rising star nomination on Tuesday.

Gold Coast's Kyal Horsley has been fined $900 for making negligent contact with an umpire.

Port Adelaide key forward Justin Westhoff was docked $900 for making an obscene gesture during the first quarter of Sunday's Showdown.

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, st-kilda-3182, vic, australia

First posted May 01, 2012 12:55:47

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Johnson to challenge charge

Updated April 24, 2012 12:46:54

Steve Johnson will challenge a rough conduct charge at the tribunal on Tuesday night, although the Geelong forward has pleaded guilty to a separate report for tripping.

Johnson will miss Saturday's clash with Brisbane if he is unsuccessful in overturning the charge of rough conduct against Richmond captain Chris Newman during Sunday's match at Kardinia Park.

Due to his existing bad record, Johnson could not have got the sanction lowered from one match to a reprimand with an early guilty plea.

But he was reprimanded and had 78 demerit points added to his record for tripping Tigers midfielder Daniel Jackson.

North Melbourne forward Lindsay Thomas will also appear before the tribunal on Tuesday night in a bid to overturn a three-match ban for a level three rough conduct charge from an incident that left Sydney speedster Gary Rohan with a broken leg.

St Kilda key forward Justin Koschitzke has accepted a one-match ban for striking former team-mate Zac Dawson in Friday night's clash with Fremantle.

Geelong's Trent West (rough conduct) and Sydney's Ted Richards (striking) have both pleaded guilty to incidents from round three and been reprimanded.

Greater Western Sydney defender Chad Cornes ($1,800) and Adelaide's Matthew Jaensch ($900) have been fiend for wrestling with each other.

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Tags: sport, australian-football-league, geelong-3220, vic, australia

First posted April 24, 2012 12:46:54

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Fevola leads charge to beat heat and play in north

By Kristy O'Brien

Updated October 14, 2011 13:23:00

The AFL NT says the decision to accept former AFL star Brendan Fevola into the Northern Territory competition has been met with some opposition.

Fevola registered yesterday to play his first match for the Waratahs this Saturday at Gardens Oval in Darwin.

AFL NT chief executive officer Tony Frawley says former St Kilda player Andrew Lovett has also registered to play a few games for the Tiwi Bombers.

He says both players have led controversial lives off-field and he says that was considered before accepting their registrations.

"I think that is big news for Darwin football and obviously there have been some mixed feelings about it, even among our staff," he said.

"I mean, should you accept the registration from Brendan?" he said.

"And there is probably going to be another similar player (Lovett) going to play with the Tiwi Bombers in a couple of weeks who was ... on a very serious charge but got off in the court of law."

Former Carlton player Fevola is hoping to make a comeback in the next AFL season.

His manager claims at least one club has flagged interest.

Former Geelong star Cameron Mooney has signed up with the Palmerston Magpies.

Tags: australian-football-league, human-interest, lifestyle, sport, darwin-0800, melbourne-3000

First posted October 14, 2011 13:17:44

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Eagles' Lynch gets charge downgraded

West Coast Eagles forward Quinten Lynch will only miss one match after his rough conduct charge was downgraded.

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Tags: australian-football-league, perth-6000

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Trengove takes charge to tribunal

Posted May 10, 2011 12:09:00

Melbourne's Jack Trengove will challenge his three-match ban for a dangerous tackle at the AFL tribunal this afternoon.

Trengove was cited for slamming Patrick Dangerfield into the ground during Sunday's match at the MCG, which left the Crows midfielder with concussion.

Trengove could have entered an early guilty plea and copped a two-match suspension.

Sydney's Ted Richards will also challenge his one-match ban for rough conduct against the Bulldogs' Lindsey Gilbee from Saturday's game in Canberra.

Fremantle's Nathan Fyfe will appear before the tribunal as he challenges his $2,400 fine for making contact with an umpire.

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

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Pies to contest Dawes charge

Updated April 19, 2011 12:21:00

Collingwood has confirmed it will challenge forward Chris Dawes' striking charge at the AFL Tribunal this evening.

Dawes will miss the Anzac Day game against Essendon at the MCG if the Magpies are unsuccessful.

Fremantle will also attempt to overturn a striking charge against captain Matthew Pavlich.

Pavlich is free to play in the Anzac Day night match against the Western Bulldogs in Perth, as his five-year good record has reduced the penalty to a reprimand.

If Pavlich wins the appeal he will still be eligible to win the Brownlow medal.

The Tribunal sits at 7.30pm.

First posted April 19, 2011 12:14:00

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