Hawks defender, Grant Birchall, has been cleared to play in Saturday’s first elimination final against Adelaide at the Telstra Dome, having accepted a reprimand and 60 points from the AFL Match Review Panel for striking Sydney’s Ryan O'Keefe in Sunday’s match against the Swans.
Birchall has been an important figure in the Hawks’ defence this season, having played every game, providing height and hard running off the half-back line.
Given that Birchall has no existing record, an early plea following the weekend’s incident has reduced the penalty by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 60 points towards his future record, making the young defender available for Saturday’s crunch game against the Crows.
The incident had been assessed by the Match Review Panel as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of four activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level One offence, drawing 80 demerit points and a reprimand.
Meanwhile, Hawks midfielder, Chance Bateman, has been cleared of any serious damage after leaving the field of play with a hamstring injury on the weekend. Bateman had scans on Monday, revealing a low grade injury, and will undergo a fitness test later this week before selection for Saturday’s first elimination final against Adelaide.
Trent Croad is recovering well after falling heavily in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to Sydney. The key defender will also have tests this week to ensure he is fully fit and available for Saturday’s match
Birchall has been an important figure in the Hawks’ defence this season, having played every game, providing height and hard running off the half-back line.
Given that Birchall has no existing record, an early plea following the weekend’s incident has reduced the penalty by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 60 points towards his future record, making the young defender available for Saturday’s crunch game against the Crows.
The incident had been assessed by the Match Review Panel as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of four activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level One offence, drawing 80 demerit points and a reprimand.
Meanwhile, Hawks midfielder, Chance Bateman, has been cleared of any serious damage after leaving the field of play with a hamstring injury on the weekend. Bateman had scans on Monday, revealing a low grade injury, and will undergo a fitness test later this week before selection for Saturday’s first elimination final against Adelaide.
Trent Croad is recovering well after falling heavily in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to Sydney. The key defender will also have tests this week to ensure he is fully fit and available for Saturday’s match
