Updated May 10, 2011 18:00:00 St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna is facing a two-match ban for bumping Ed Curnow's injured shoulder during the narrow loss to Carlton.
The AFL's match review panel charged Montagna with misconduct on Tuesday for making "unreasonable or unnecessary contact with an injured player" during the first term of Monday night's match at Docklands.
But the star Saint can accept a one-match ban with an early guilty plea.
Meanwhile, Sydney defender Ted Richards has been found not guilty of a rough conduct charge.
Richards, who was facing a one-match ban, successfully argued his bump on Western Bulldogs utility Lindsay Gilbee was not to the head or neck area during the second quarter of Saturday's game in Canberra.
In cases to follow later on Tuesday, young Melbourne midfielder Jack Trengove will challenge his three-match suspension.
The match review panel charged him with rough conduct for the tackle he laid on Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield during the match at the MCG on Sunday.
Fremantle's Nathan Fyfe will also challenge his fine for negligent umpire contact.
Also, Carlton captain Chris Judd was the most out of pocket after eight players were fined for the quarter-time melee during the at-times spiteful game.
After receiving a medical report from Carlton, the review panel ruled Montagna's bump on Curnow was intentional and low impact.
Montagna is risking a two-match ban if he goes to the tribunal because he has 93.75 carryover points from last season.
The AFL clamped down on intentional contact with injured players after Brisbane opponents ran into Saints captain Nick Riewoldt as he left the field with a broken collarbone six years ago.
The review panel on Tuesday looked at St Kilda ruck-forward Justin Koschitzke, who also bumped Curnow - but let him off because he made contact with the uninjured shoulder.
"The panel said that no contact was made by Koschitzke to the shoulder region that Curnow had previously damaged during the quarter," the AFL said in a statement.
Judd was fined twice for his central role in the quarter-time melee and received a total penalty of $4,000.
Judd was fined for instigating the melee and for engaging in the incident.
The two-time Brownlow Medallist can accept a $3,000 penalty if he takes the early plea on the two charges.
He remains eligible for this year's Brownlow because there are no penalty points involved in melee charges.
Judd was among five Carlton players and three Saints who were fined for taking part.
The melee penalties total $16,400, but would reduce to $12,300 if all the players took early pleas.
Judd and team-mates Aaron Joseph, Heath Scotland, Mitch Robinson and Marc Murphy all were fined $1,600, reduced to $1,200 with early pleas.
St Kilda utility Jason Gram was fined $2,800, which can go down to $2,100 because it was his second melee offence.
Team-mates David Armitage and Sam Gilbert were also fined $1,600, or $1,200 if they accept their penalties.
- AAP
Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, carlton-3053, st-kilda-3182 First posted May 10, 2011 17:03:00
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