Hawkins says he totally respects the role of umpires in the game and accepts his one-game suspension was appropriate. 

 

That's all for me. We'll have more on AFL.com.au shortly.

 

Thanks for joining us. See you next time.

Ihle: any reasonable player who looks through what Tom has gone through since Friday night, that level of pressure and anxiety is not an inconsiderable aspect of the penalty.

 

Hawkins agrees that a one-week suspension is in the realms of appropriate penalties for this type of case.

Ihle: Hawkins has never previously touched an umpire in 200 AFL games.

 

Umpire didn't lose his feet, balance wasn't affected. There was no risk of injury to the umpire which can be contrasted with careless contact cases.

 

He is deeply disappointed in himself.

Ihle: to Hawkins' credit that it was an emotion-charged environment and he was making his way out of that environment. Does not turn around to engage with GWS players. 

Margetts charges in, raises hand towards Hawkins' chest. Not to say Margetts at blame in any way, but Hawkins immediate reaction is, in that split-second, brushes hand away. Did so in an unthinking way, but concedes that doesn't mean it wasn't intentional. His action was what he's instructed to do when players get in his face; a sweeping the hand away motion.

Ihle - Hawkins is concerned about the circumstances in which his action occurred. Has watched the video time and time again to try and make since of what he did.

 

A reactionary split-second decision.

Ben Ihle says Hawkins agrees action was done in frustration, but does not accept it was done in anger.

 

Was aware he'd done the wrong thing immediately, had crossed the line.

 

Apologised to umpire Margetts twice during the game.

Gleeson one-week is an appropriate sanction because more serious than careless contact, which attracts a fine.

 

A larger fine not appropriate because difference between intentional and careless is a "a quantum leap" that warrants the jump from a suspension to a fine.

 

It was a remonstration with physical contact.