The AFL wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed the matches played in round 17 of the 2015 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. The following charges were laid:

Charges Laid:
Nick Holman, Carlton, has been charged with striking Luke Breust, Hawthorn, during the first quarter of the Round 17 match between Carlton and Hawthorn, played at Etihad Stadium on Friday July 24, 2015.

In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.

Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Hawthorn Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with medium impact to the head. The incident was classified as a two-match sanction. The player has no applicable bad record. An early plea enables the player to accept a one-match sanction.

Josh Gibson, Hawthorn, has been charged with charged with striking Blaine Boekhorst, Carlton, during the first quarter of the Round 17 match between Hawthorn and Carlton, played at Etihad Stadium on Friday July 24, 2015.

In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Carlton Football Club, it was the view of the panel the incident should be classified as intentional conduct with low impact to the body. This offence was the second to be classified against the player this season and therefore was classified as a $2500 sanction. An early plea can reduce the penalty to a $1500 sanction.

Richard Douglas, Adelaide Crows, has been charged with charged with engaging in rough conduct against Matt Shaw, Gold Coast Suns, during the first quarter of the Round 17 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Gold Coast Suns, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday July 25, 2015.

In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Gold Coast Suns Football Club, it was the view of the panel the incident should be classified as careless conduct with low impact to the head. This offence was classified as a $1500 sanction. The player has no applicable bad record. An early plea can reduce the penalty to a $1000 sanction.

Andrew Swallow, North Melbourne, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against James Aish, Brisbane Lions, during the second quarter of the Round 17 match between North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions, played at the Gabba on Saturday July 25, 2015.

In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Brisbane Lions Football Club, it was the view of the panel the incident should be classified as careless conduct with low impact to the head. This offence was the second to be classified against the player this season and therefore was classified as a $2500 sanction. An early plea can reduce the penalty to a $1500 sanction.

Jackson Macrae, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Brayden Maynard, Collingwood, during the fourth quarter of the Round 17 match between the Western Bulldogs and Collingwood, played at Etihad Stadium on Sunday July 26, 2015.

In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Collingwood Football Club, it was the view of the panel the incident should be classified as careless conduct with low impact to the body. This offence was classified as a $1500 sanction. The player has no applicable bad record. An early plea can reduce the penalty to a $1000 sanction.

Lewis Jetta, Sydney Swans, has been charged with charged with engaging in rough conduct against Elliot Yeo, West Coast, during the fourth quarter of the Round 17 match between the Sydney Swans and West Coast, played at Domain Stadium on Sunday July 26, 2015.

In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the West Coast Football Club, it was the view of the panel the incident should be classified as intentional conduct with low impact to the body. This offence was the second to be classified against the player this season and therefore was classified as a $2500 sanction. An early plea can reduce the penalty to a $1500 sanction.


Other Matters Assessed:
The match day report against Richmond’s Dustin Martin for striking Fremantle’s Lee Spurr was assessed. After viewing all available vision, it was the view of the panel that Martin’s action was a pushing motion and not a striking action. No further action was taken.

Contact between the Brisbane Lions’ Mitch Robinson and North Melbourne’s Andrew Swallow from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. After viewing all available vision, it was the view of the panel that, under the MRP guidelines given to them around head clashes, Robinson’s actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.

Contact between the Brisbane Lions’ Sam Mayes and North Melbourne’s Kayne Turner from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Turner and Mayes were coming to the ball from opposite directions when Mayes bumped the North Melbourne player. After viewing all available vision, it was the view of the panel that the majority of contact was made to Turner’s upper arm and there was insufficient forceful high contact to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.

Contact between Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard and Essendon’s Mark Baguley from the first quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Baguley has the ball and is tackled by his Port Adelaide opponent. Wingard initially goes to ground in the tackle and then regains his feet and briefly lifts Baguley in the tackle. It was the view of the panel the force used in the tackle to take the Essendon player to ground was below that required to constitute a report, but it was the view of the panel that player Baguley should have been paid a free kick at the time for the tackle.

Contact between Essendon’s Mark Baguley and Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard from the fourth quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Wingard took possession of the ball and was tackled to the ground by Baguley. While the Port Adelaide player had his arms pinned, Baguley turned his opponent in the tackle and there was no significant forceful contact made to the ground by Wingard’s head. The umpire correctly paid a free kick at the time to Wingard for a dangerous tackle and it was the view of the panel the matter was dealt with at the time on the field by the controlling umpire, as there was insufficient force to constitute a report. No further action was taken.