AFL Daily: Ben Stratton faces suspension and $5000 fine at AFL Tribunal
Ben Stratton will be made to explain his niggling pinching tactics at the AFL Tribunal after match review officer Michael Christian revealed he chose not to fine the Hawks skipper for multiple pinches. RECAP THE DAY'S NEWS
Hawthorn captain Ben Stratton will face the tribunal on Tuesday night accused of pinching Bomber Orazio Fantasia up to eight times.
Match review officer Michael Christian said he considered fining Stratton $1500 for each pinch but ultimately handed it over to the tribunal so Stratton could explain the repeat nature of his behaviour.
Stratton also faces a one-match suspension for stomping ahead of the Hawks’ clash against Sydney Swans at the SCG on Friday night.
The tribunal charge has allowed the AFL to make a strong stand against Stratton’s behaviour against Essendon after classifying his aggravating methods as unacceptable and unsportsmanlike.
The match review staff examined the entire game from all camera angles and found Stratton pinched Orazio as many as eight times throughout their niggly match-up.
“Under the guidelines, pinching is a fixed financial sanction,” Christian said.
“But after much consideration, given the number (of pinches) and multiple times we had evidence of pinching, it was decided the most appropriate action was to charge Ben under the serious misconduct provisions, which means a direct referral to the tribunal.
“It’s not viewed upon very well at all. It’s not something we like to see in the game.”
It means Stratton could face a fine in excess of $5000 for the pinching barrage which left Fantasia’s left arm badly bruised in Essendon’s 19-point win on Friday night.
Christian said the Stratton case was the first clear instance of pinching he has seen over the past two years.
He said “there was no clear evidence” of Stratton pinching Brisbane livewire Charlie Cameron three weeks ago, despite claims the Hawk used the same tactics against the Lions’ goal kicker in Round 11.
But it’s the stomping charge which is likely to be viewed even more seriously by the tribunal and cost Stratton at least one match on the sidelines.
Stratton used his left foot to stomp on Shaun McKernan’s right foot, immediately angering the Essendon forward, who remonstrated with Stratton.
“Under the guidelines, it (stomping) is an automatic referral straight to the tribunal,” Christian said.
Teammate James Sicily was rubbed out for one match last year for stomping on North Melbourne defender Shaun Atley.
North Melbourne’s Ben Brown is free to take on Collingwood after the bye after the Roos’ gun spearhead was cleared of elbowing Giant Matt Buntine due to insufficient force.Buntine continued to play on and was unhurt in the incident, helping Brown escape sanction.
Christian said Brown’s elbow on Buntine was not forceful enough to warrant a sanction.
“He (Brown) raised his arm, his forearm hit the ball and then slid up off the ball and made high contact with Matt Buntine,” he said.
“But in terms of the impact, it was insufficient.”
Originally published as AFL Daily: Ben Stratton faces suspension and $5000 fine at AFL Tribunal
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