Tom Hawkins handed one-game ban after pleading guilty to making intentional contact with an umpire

TOM Hawkins’ decision to throw himself at the mercy of the AFL tribunal spared him a greater suspension for intentional umpire contact. Did the eventual penalty match the crime? HAVE YOUR SAY.

TOM Hawkins’ decision to throw himself at the mercy of the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night spared him a greater suspension for intentional umpire contact.

But his one-week ban for touching umpire Dean Margetts has handed Collingwood a significant advantage ahead of Sunday’s huge clash. Geelong will have to reprise its Round 5 Adelaide Oval heroics, when it beat Port Adelaide against the odds with Hawkins a late out with back soreness. REACTION: NIC NAT BAN “RIDICULOUS, A JOKE" SUPER RANKING: IS MACRAE BEST MID RIGHT NOW? TOUCHY: HAWKINS SENT STRAIGHT TO TRIBUNAL The Cats star said after being handed his suspension that he agreed with the penalty given the gravity of intentionally touching an umpire. “I absolutely respect the umpires and their importance to the game at all levels,’’ he said. “The tribunal came up with a decision today that was in the best interests of the game and I totally respect that.” In what has become a growing trend at the AFL tribunal, a pre-case discussion between lawyers led to a guilty plea from the player. Hawkins was happy to plead guilty when given the assurance from the AFL’s Jeff Gleeson that the penalty recommended to the tribunal would be a single week. Geelong had 10 goal scorers in that clash against Port Adelaide, and with Patrick Dangerfield in strong form as a forward could play him deep again. Gary Ablett also returns for Geelong against a Collingwood side that has won four of its past five clashes. Hawkins missed Rounds 21 and 22 last year after striking Sydney’s Dane Rampe, but the Cats still beat Richmond and Hawthorn in that fortnight. They lost to West Coast by 13 points at Subiaco Oval when he missed Round 13 last year with another suspension, this time for a hit on Adelaide’s Matt Crouch. Hawkins was in sparkling form on Friday night, kicking four goals in a strong display after only six goals in the first five matches. Gleeson said had Hawkins chosen to fight the charge he could have recommended a two-week suspension. The pre-tribunal decision paved the way for a waffle-free case running at just 30 minutes and only three minutes of deliberation from jury members Michael Jamison, Richard Loveridge and David Neitz. But the jury’s pre-deliberation instruction from tribunal chairman Ross Howie made clear why a week’s suspension rather than a hefty fine was justified. “It is about giving a message to all other players, and not only to all players playing (senior) Australian football, that the position of the umpire is sacrosanct,’’ he said. “All around the state and suburbs each weekend footballers are going out and umpires are taken out with an escort and back with an escort, all with the message... that you have to protect the umpire.” Heath Shaw was the most recent precedent, handed a one-week suspension in 2009 for placing his hand on umpire Michael Vozzo. Ben Ihle, acting for Hawkins, said on Tuesday that the Cats star immediately realised he had crossed the line after touching umpire Dean Margetts. He had just given away a 50m penalty after a collision with GWS defender Nick Haynes, a clash that saw him accept a $2000 rough conduct fine. He said Hawkins had been instructed to brush a player’s hand away when they stepped up into his face and instead instinctively touched Margetts’ wrist. “He was frustrated with himself for having given away a 50m penalty and in that split second he reacted in a very unthinking and reactionary way. Perfect 9 promo 650x90 “Immediately upon touching Mr Margetts’ hand he was aware he had done the wrong thing. “There is a line in the sand and he knows he had crossed it. He apologised to the umpire not once but twice during the course of the game. “As someone who has played 200 senior games he has never touched an umpire let alone intentionally having touched an umpire. “It is highly improbable and unlikely to ever happen again.” LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Get your free 2-week Foxtel Now trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW

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