THE RECENT increase in on-field indiscretions has put a number of finals-bound players on thin ice as they go into the final six rounds of the season carrying poor Tribunal records.
Eight players have registered two fines for minor classifiable offences* already this season, with five of those coming from teams still in the mix to play finals.
If a player registers a third minor offence within a season, such as a low-impact strike to the body, they are automatically suspended for one match.
Richmond is the team most at risk after superstar midfielder Dustin Martin's double penalty in round 17, with Martin and captain Trent Cotchin each facing suspension if they commit another low-level offence.
In round 16 this season, Western Bulldogs defender Easton Wood became the first player suspended for registering three low-level offences since the new Match Review Panel system was introduced ahead of the 2015 season.
Meanwhile, there are 17 players carrying bad suspension records into the run to finals, meaning any suspension between now and the end of the season will carry a one-match loading.
A player who has been suspended for two matches or more in the past two AFL years is deemed to have a bad record.
Melbourne, which has been the least disciplined team in 2017 with a total of 14 games suspended, has four players in this category.
There have already been $70,500 in fines for low-level offences this season (in 2016 there were $75,000 across the entire season).
Of the finals contenders, only Essendon has no players carrying a bad record in either the fine or suspension categories.
YOUR CLUB'S PLAYERS WITH BAD RECORDS
ADELAIDE
Fines
Charlie Cameron (two strikes)
Mitch McGovern
Taylor Walker
Suspensions
Nil
GEELONG
Fines
Mitch Duncan
Joel Selwood
Suspensions
James Parsons (two matches)
Nakia Cockatoo (two matches)
Tom Hawkins (two matches)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Fines
Toby Greene
Jeremy Cameron
Shane Mumford
Phil Davis
Suspensions
Toby Greene (two matches)
Jeremy Cameron (two matches)
PORT ADELAIDE
Fines
Hamish Hartlett (two strikes)
Paddy Ryder
Jackson Trengove
Suspensions
Tom Jonas (six matches)
RICHMOND
Fines
Trent Cotchin (two strikes)
Dustin Martin (two strikes)
Suspensions
Bachar Houli (four matches)
Alex Rance (two matches)
SYDNEY
Fines
Zak Jones (two strikes)
Kurt Tippett
Heath Grundy
Lance Franklin
Luke Parker
Suspensions
Nil
MELBOURNE
Fines
Bernie Vince
Suspensions
Jordan Lewis (three matches)
Jesse Hogan (two matches)
Tom Bugg (six matches)
Bernie Vince (four matches)
WEST COAST
Fines
Will Schofield
Mark LeCras
Luke Shuey
Drew Petrie
Suspensions
Chris Masten (two matches – expires R20, 2017)
Simon Tunbridge (two matches)
ST KILDA
Fines
Jack Steven (two strikes)
Nick Riewoldt
Suspensions
Jimmy Webster (two matches)
Tim Membrey (two matches)
ESSENDON
Fines
Joe Daniher
Suspensions
Nil
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Fines
Lachie Hunter
Suspensions
Lin Jong (two matches)
Records include all players fined in 2017 for classifiable offences and all players suspended for two matches or more in the past two AFL years.
*Common classifiable offences are striking, rough conduct and tripping. They result in a financial sanction when graded intentional with low impact to the body, careless with medium impact to the body, or careless with low impact to the head, groin or body.
