Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin to miss clash against Adelaide after Tribunal challenge fails

DOCKER Luke McPharlin will miss Saturday's crucial clash against Adelaide after his tribunal challenge failed.

Luke McPharlin

DOCKER Luke McPharlin will miss the crucial clash against Adelaide after he was unsuccessful in his bid to overturn a bumping charge at the AFL Tribunal.

The veteran was cited for a front-on bump on West Coast’s Jack Darling during the Dockers’ 65-point derby rout, with the Match Review Panel deeming the hit to be high contact, low impact and negligent.

During the hearing, McPharlin argued he intended to knock the ball out of Darling’s possession with his bump and then win it himself, and admitted he was surprised a report was made at all.

West Coast’s submitted medical report was also in favour of the Fremantle backman, detailing how Darling had received no ongoing treatment as a result of the bump.

But the AFL’s counsel argued the hit occurred in the "no-contact" zone of the shoulders and head and the tribunal jury agreed, meaning the suspension remained at one week.

McPharlin’s absence leaves a hole in Fremantle’s defence ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Crows, where a likely match-up with towering forward Taylor Walker had loomed.

The defender’s previous poor record meant he could not escape the original charge with a reprimand.

Earlier, Fremantle duo Matthew Pavlich and Matt de Boer accepted reprimands for a striking and tripping charge respectively during the derby victory.

Meanwhile, Hawthorn midfielder Liam Shiels will miss Sunday’s game against Port Adelaide in Launceston after the AFL match review panel cited him for an off-the-ball elbow to Geelong midfielder Allen Christiensen’s stomach last Friday night.

A previous suspension against Geelong meant Shiels couldn’t avoid a ban this time – he served two matches for striking Cat Cameron Ling in round 2, 2010.

Young St Kilda defender Tom Simpkin was also offered a reprimand for a front-on bump to Collingwood’s Sharrod Wellingham.

And North Melbourne’s veteran midfielder Brent Harvey was hit with a $1950 fine for pushing Bulldog Robert Murphy into the path of field umpire Jason Armstrong.