The AFL wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed the matches from Round Four of the 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. The following charges were laid:

Charges Laid:

Dale Morris, Western Bulldogs, has been charged with a Level Three tripping offence (225 demerit points, two-match sanction) for tripping Will Hoskin-Elliott, Greater Western Sydney, during the first quarter of the Round Four match between the Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney, played at Startrack Oval on Saturday April 12, 2014.

In summary, due to a six-year good record, he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.

Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Greater Western Sydney Football Club, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), high impact (three points) and body contact (one point). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Three Offence, drawing 225 demerit points. He has an existing six-year good record, reducing the penalty by 25 per cent to 168.75 points and a one-match sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 126.56 points and a one-match sanction.

Other Incidents Assessed:

The match day report against Carlton’s Robert Warnock for striking Melbourne’s Jake Spencer in the third quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Warnock and Spencer are grappling when Warnock makes high contact to Spencer. After viewing all the available footage, speaking with the umpire who laid the report and receiving a medical report from the Melbourne Football Club, it was the view of the panel that the force used by Warnock was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.

The match day report against Sydney’s Lance Franklin for striking North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s match was assessed. Thompson is running out of the goal square when Franklin makes high contact with Thompson. After viewing all the available footage, speaking with the umpire who laid the report and receiving a medical report from the North Melbourne Football Club, it was the view of the panel that Franklin’s act was not a striking action and the force used by Franklin was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.

Contact between Collingwood’s Nick Maxwell and Richmond’s Trent Cotchin from the first quarter of Friday’s game was assessed. Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury has possession of the ball, Cotchin is within five metres of the contest and Maxwell makes high contact with Cotchin while in the act of bumping. After viewing all the available footage and receiving a medical report from the Richmond Football Club, it was the view of the panel that the force used by Maxwell was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.

Contact between Richmond’s Trent Cotchin and Collingwood’s Clinton Young from the fourth quarter of Friday’s game was assessed. Cotchin is running down the field and Young moves to block his path. Cotchin swings his arm and makes body contact with Young. After viewing all the available footage and receiving a medical report from the Collingwood Football Club, it was the view of the panel that the force used by Cotchin was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.