Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell. Photo – http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/
Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell has been offered a two-match ban by the AFL Match Review Panel for engaging in rough conduct with Hawthorn’s Paul Puopolo during Friday Night’s First Qualifying Final.
The charge was graded as a level three offence which equates to 325 demerit points and a three match ban, but Maxwell can accept a two-match ban with an early plea. Puopolo sustained a broken nose from the incident which contributed to the severity of the penalty. This of course means that should he accept the ban, Maxwell will only play again this season if Collingwood make the Grand Final.
In other charges laid, teammate of Maxwell Chris Tarrant has been charged with a level two striking offence against Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin during the first quarter on Friday Night. Due to a previous good record, Tarrant can accept a reprimand and 70.31 demerit points to his record, which won’t mean anything unless he gets suspended from here until the end of the season as he is retiring.
Jarryd Roughead has also been charged, this time with a level one rough conduct charge against Collingwood forward Chris Dawes. For this, Roughead can accept a reprimand and 70.31 demerits towards his future record due to a previous good record.
Collingwood’s Heath Shaw and Hawthorn’s Brad Sewell have both been fined $900 with an early plea for a first offence for wrestling with each other.
Adelaide young gun Patrick Dangerfield can also accept a $900 fine for making negligent contact with umpire Justin Schmitt during Saturday’s Qualifying Final at AAMI Stadium.
Geelong veteran James Kelly has been charged with a level one bumping offence against Fremantle’s Tendai Mzungu during the third quarter of the Elimination Final at the MCG on Saturday Night. Due to a previous poor record, Kelly’s one match sanction must remain that way.
West Coast big man Quentin Lynch has been hit with a one-match ban that cannot be reduced due to a previous bad record after a level one charging offence on North Melbourne’s Scott McMahon during the Elimination Final at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
Kangaroos veteran Brent Harvey has been hit with a double-ban. Firstly, he was charged with a level four striking offence against West Coast’s Daniel Kerr and can accept a three-match ban and due to a poor record it cannot be reduced. Harvey has also copped a one-match ban for a level three striking ban against Adam Selwood on Sunday. This also cannot be reduced and adds up to a total of four matches that Harvey will have to sit out next season.
Other incidents assessed include contact between Hawk Josh Gibson and Collingwood’s Andrew Krakouer, between Swan Jude Bolton and Patrick Dangerfield and contact between Eagle Sam Butler and North Melbourne’s Lachie Hansen, but all of these were thrown out.
