MRO: Reports, fines, suspensions and AFL tribunal news throughout the footy frenzy
Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt has escaped with a fine for his strike to Port Adelaide captain Tom Jonas’ groin during their Saturday night clash. Meanwhile, a star Lion has been banned for a week. SEE THE MRO LATEST
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Jack Riewoldt has been involved in Richmond’s second groin-related controversy of the weekend after being issued a $1500 fine for a below-the-belt strike on Tom Jonas.
Riewoldt lashed out at the Port Adelaide captain as he fell to ground in the loss to the Power, striking him directly in the groin.
But MRO boss Michael Christian gave him the benefit of the doubt and assessed the incident as careless rather than intentional.
An intentional, low-impact strike would have been a one-week penalty given how seriously the MRO takes strikes to the groin.
Richmond star Dustin Martin is still in Brownlow contention, but only just after being handed a fine for his punch on Tom Rockliff.
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He hit the Port Adelaide midfielder with a clip to the chin in the passage of play that led to Josh Caddy’s 50m penalty but it was not judged forceful enough to suspend him.
As a third offence for the season he can accept a $1750 fine, but his Brownlow eligibility remains intact.
Riewoldt was also hit with a rough conduct fine for rough conduct on Rockliff and can accept a second $1500 fine.
Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton told Fox Footy on Sunday he believed Riewoldt deserved a suspension for the groin strike given he had made clear impact with Jonas.
He said given Riewoldt need not be given the benefit of the doubt given it appeared the strike was intentional.
WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE
But it was judged that the incident was only careless, with Riewoldt lashing out after Jonas clipped him with a boot to his head as he leaped over him.
Marlion Pickett can accept a $1500 fine for forceful front-on contact against Sam Powell-Pepper given it was his second offence.
But the contrast of AFL fines was laid bare given Pickett will have to pay three quarters of a $2000 match payment, but Martin’s fine is a trifle given a seven-year, $8.4 million contract.
It finished a weekend where the Tigers were forced to apologise for vision that showed multiple players making contact with the groin and bottoms of teammates.
The club had to apologise to supporters after conducting a formal procedure with its head of integrity to ensure victim Mabior Chol did not want to take the matter further.
Meanwhile, Brisbane’s Daniel Rich has been suspended for a week for his rough conduct tackle against Western Bulldog Ed Richards in the win on Saturday night.
His teammate Matt Eagles was also fined for kicking Marcus Bontempelli in the third quarter.
PAPLEY SANCTIONED FOR STAGING
Sydney forward Tom Papley has been fined for staging a week after declaring he has never milked a free kick in his life.
The AFL slapped the Swans goalkicker with a $500 fine for exaggerating contact from Collingwood defender Brayden Marnard in the final quarter on Thursday.
SCROLL DOWN FOR TRIBUNAL DECISION ON ALEX NEAL-BULLEN
The incident comes hot on the heals of a stoush between Papley and Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, who voiced his frustration after the small forward was awarded a double goal against the Hawks.
The premiership coach later apologised for his choice of words after saying in his post-match press conference: “He milks free kicks as good as anyone in the competition, and he did on this occasion again.”
Yikes. Push? pic.twitter.com/ZM97X7E42U
— Brayden Cocks (@brayden_cocks) August 6, 2020
Papley responded by telling News Corp: “It’s not true.
“I don’t know what Clarko was on about. I didn’t dive. He got me from behind and that was that. I didn’t dive.
“I think enough has been said and I’ll move on from it.
“Clarko was obviously a bit frustrated and may have said the wrong thing but it’s what it’s.”
Asked if he has ever milked for a free before, Papley said if that was the case, he wasn’t very good at it.
“No, not that I know of,” he said.
“I’d like to get a few more free kicks if I was milking but I don’t get that many free kicks.”
Papley was fined $750 for a first staging offence by match review officer Michael Christian, but can pay $500 with a guilty plea. He didn’t receive a free kick for the incident.
DEMON COPS FOUR-WEEK BAN AT TRIBUNAL
Melbourne’s Alex Neal-Bullen argued at Friday night‘s tribunal hearing that a lengthy suspension could jeopardise his AFL career because the forward is far from secure in coach Simon Goodwin’s best 22.
But the AFL successfully campaigned for a four-match suspension for the ugly sling tackle that knocked out Adelaide’s Will Hamill at a marathon hearing.
The Demons unsuccessfully tried to have the impact part of the rough conduct charge downgraded from severe to high.
After the 93-minute hearing it took the jury another 26 minutes to deliberate.
The tribunal chairman said the velocity at which Hamill’s head smacked into the Adelaide Oval turf ultimately consigned the Demon to a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
He will miss matches against North Melbourne, Collingwood and Western Bulldogs and Melbourne’s Round 14 opponent, which has not yet been revealed.
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Charlie Spargo could replace Neal-Bullen against the Kangaroos as the Demons look to stay in the finals hunt.
Melbourne’s advocate Peter O’Farrell argued that a lengthy ban in a short season – and with players on reduced pay – could cost Neal-Bullen the chance to hit certain triggers in his contract.
Neal-Bullen was dropped to the VFL three times last season and he has only played three games in 2020.
O‘Farrell said a long ban would have a “significant impact” on Neal-Bullen’s future in the game.
“He describes himself as a battler in the game and week to week he’s fighting for his spot in the team and his career on a weekly basis,” O’Farrell said.
Neal-Bullen is contracted until 2021.
The Demons submitted two character references for Neal-Bullen and pointed to his previously unblemished record after 76 AFL games.
But the medical report from Crows doctor Mac Cesana was damning.
It said that Hamill would miss seven days of training and would not play for at least two weeks due to concussion.
Neal-Bullen showed genuine remorse and his impressive work in the community, where he is regarded as an upstanding citizen, was considered by the jury.
The 24-year-old sourced Hamill’s mobile number from Crow Rory Atkins following the match.
“I sent (Hamill) my best wishes and wanted to let him know there was no malice in the tackle and also that I hope he recovers quickly,” Neal-Bullen said during the hearing.
AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson said it was a “very bad tackle – it’s a full sling”.
“It caused significant damage and it could’ve been worse,” he said.
“An impact at that velocity could’ve broken a bone, could’ve caused other damage to the head and facial region (and) … the medical report was bad enough.”
Neal-Bullen explained that he was holding on for dear life because he wanted to thwart Hamill from getting goalside on his left boot because it would’ve given the Crows a look at the goals.
Originally published as MRO: Reports, fines, suspensions and AFL tribunal news throughout the footy frenzy