THE AFL advises the Match Review of the Saturday’s elimination and qualifying finals has now been completed. A total of three charges have been laid with five incidents requiring explanation.
Charges Laid:
Jacob Hopper, GWS Giants, has been charged with a fourth offence of making careless contact to an umpire (Nathan Williamson) during the second quarter of the second elimination final between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants, played at the SCG on Saturday September 8, 2018.
In summary, he can accept a $2500 sanction with an early plea.
Based on available evidence, the incident was assessed as careless contact with an umpire. The incident was classified as a $4000 sanction as a fourth offence. The player can accept a $2500 sanction with an early plea.
Toby Greene, GWS Giants, has been charged with third offence of misconduct for misconduct against Isaac Heeney, Sydney Swans, during the third quarter of the second elimination final between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants, played at the SCG on Saturday September 8, 2018.
In summary, he can accept a $2500 sanction with an early plea.
A third offence for misconduct is a $4000 fixed financial sanction. The player can accept a $2500 sanction with an early plea.
Zak Jones, Sydney Swans, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Callan Ward, GWS Giants, during the fourth quarter of the second elimination final between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants, played at the SCG on Saturday September 8, 2018.
In summary, he can accept a $2000 sanction with an early plea.
Based on available evidence and a medical report from the GWS Giants 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 with an early plea.
Other matters assessed:
Contact between the GWS Giants’ Toby Greene and the Sydney Swans’ Aliir Aliir from the second quarter was assessed. Greene jumps early in a marking contest and his right foot makes contact with Aliir’s bicep. It was ruled by the Match Review Office that under the current guidelines for a marking contest, the action was not reportable. No further action was taken.
Contact between the GWS Giants’ Harry Himmelberg and the Sydney Swans’ Nic Newman from the fourth quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. GWS’ Zac Langdon has possession of the ball and is prepared to dispose of it to a team mate. As Langdon is moving with the ball, Himmelberg moves to block Newman’s run approximately five metres from the play. Contact is made to Newman’s chest and shoulder with no forceful high contact resulting from the bump. It was the view of the Match Review Officer that the contact was no unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.
Contact between the GWS Giants’ Toby Greene and the Sydney Swans’ Nic Newman from the fourth quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. The ball is kicked into the Giants’ forward line by Callan Ward. Before the ball arrives, Greene extends his leg and pushes player Newman, before completing the mark. While a free kick should have been paid against Greene for the separate careless pushing action before the marking contest, it was ruled that the force used was below that required for a charge to be laid. No further action was taken.
Contact between the West Coast Eagles’ Elliot Yeo and Collingwood’s Taylor Adams from the fourth quarter was assessed. The ball is loose in general play and Adams takes possession of the ball while Yeo simultaneously moves forward to the contest. Adams attempts to handball towards teammate Scott Pendlebury and Yeo steps forward and blocks the football with his right boot. As Yeo is moving towards the Collingwood player, high contact occurs and a free kick is paid at the time to Adams. It was the view of the Match Review Officer that Yeo’s actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.
Contact between the West Coast Eagles’ Willie Rioli and Collingwood’s Levi Greenwood from the fourth quarter was assessed. Rioli is down the ground away from the play, with Greenwood behind him. As West Coast begins to attack, Rioli starts moving backwards, away from the contest and towards his forward line. The West Coast player makes contact with Greenwood and an accidental head clash occurs. At the time of the collision, Greenwood is near stationary. It was the view of the Match Review Officer that Greenwood’s actions did not constitute a reportable offence.
