Western Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan set to miss the 2018 AFLW Grand Final

WESTERN Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan will fight her AFLW Grand Final suspension at the tribunal in a bid to play in Saturday’s decider after she was slapped with a two-match ban, down to one with an early plea, for rough conduct.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — MARCH 17: Katie Brennan of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the 2018 AFLW Round 07 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Demons at VU Whitten Oval on March 17, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)

WESTERN Bulldogs captain Katie Brennan will fight her suspension at the tribunal tonight in a bid to play in Saturday’s AFLW Grand Final.

The Bulldogs have opted to challenge her ban, which if unsuccessful, will see her miss the decider against Brisbane at Ikon Park.

The hearing will be held at 5.30pm tonight.

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The Bulldogs captain — who was on Monday hit with a one-match ban after recording her second reprimand for rough conduct this season — said there would be “nothing to lose” by challenging the ban.

Match review officer Michael Christian insisted there was no room for emotion in his adjudications.

“You’re aware, obviously, of the implications, but at the end of the day, you’re focused on trying to do the right thing and ... you’re charged with the responsibility of upholding the guidelines and that’s what I’ve tried to do,” he said.

The incident that saw Katie Brennan slapped with a suspension. Picture: Getty

Brennan flung Demon Harriet Cordner to the ground in Saturday night’s win at Whitten Oval, with one of Cordner’s arms pinned early in the tackle.

Cordner’s head hit the ground, but she rose to take her free kick, did not leave the field and played out the game.

It was assessed as rough conduct (careless with low impact to the head).

In the men’s game it would have attracted a $3000 fine given it was a second low-level offence.

But given AFL earnings dwarf those in the AFLW, fines are replaced by reprimands, with two in a season triggering a two-week ban that comes down to one with a guilty plea.

Brennan, speaking before the Christian verdict, said she had apologised to Cordner.

“What’s done is done and on review it was a really heated contest,” Brennan said.

“There was an enormous number of tackles out there and it was our game plan to apply a lot of pressure and especially a lot of forward pressure, which is what we pride ourselves on as forwards.

“It was an accident and I’ve apologised to Harriet and hopefully I’ll be out there (on Saturday).”

A Melbourne medical report was considered by Christian, who said the low impact determination was a result of three factors after the tackle was deemed dangerous.

“The guidelines say if you’re swung, driven or rotated into the ground with excessive force then it’s graded as a dangerous tackle and therefore rough conduct,” Christian said.

Katie Brennan celebrates on the final siren. Picture: Getty Images

“In my view, there was excessive force with the way that Harriet Cordner was driven into the ground.

“The three things I take into account with impact is the visual look of how severe that impact is, the player reaction and the medical report. Harriet Cordner was initially stunned and was on her hands and knees for a number of seconds.”

Christian said Brennan could have avoided the driving motion.

“That’s the critical element here in determining if it’s unreasonable in the circumstances,” he said.

“The driving motion particularly towards the end of the tackle, for me, didn’t need to happen.”

Christian said he was “fully aware” that the Bulldogs would likely challenge the ban.

“It’s a great opportunity for the Western Bulldogs to put their case forward and for the AFL to put their case forward and let the tribunal decide,” he said.

Brennan spoke before the decision was handed down and said that if it didn’t go her way, there was “nothing to lose” — other than a shot at Round 1 of next season.

The 25-year-old has fought to return from an ankle injury that remains structurally “not well”, but she engaged in an “aggressive” rehabilitation program to ensure she would be available for the pointy end of the season.

Brennan’s teammate Ellie Blackburn told the Herald Sun she was confident that the team could win the premiership without their skipper if they were forced to.

“We’ve played three games that were really tough and hard winning games without Katie throughout the year,” she said.

“Whatever the match review panel puts through it puts through. We play with Katie or we don’t, but we trust our processes and whoever steps up will play well.”