Dockers lose Fyfe, Dawson for Hawks
Brownlow Medal hopes of Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe have evaporated while his team has taken a selection hit after the match review panel handed out its penalties today.
Fyfe, an early favourite for the AFL player prize, was given a two-match suspension for rough conduct towards Gold Coast's Michael Rischitelli at Patersons Stadium on Saturday. The sanction automatically rules him ineligible for the award.
Teammate Zac Dawson was given a one-match ban for tripping the Suns' Brandon Matera.
Fyfe, who was expected to have polled high Brownlow votes in round one, and Dawson can't reduce their penalties with a early guilty plea. Fremantle have yet to indicate whether they will fight the charges at the AFL Tribunal.
The loss of two key players is a blow for the Dockers as they prepare to take on their conquerors in last year's AFL grand final, Hawthorn, at the MCG on Friday.
Carlton's Jarrad Waite also felt the wrath of the panel, receiving a reprimand for staging in the clash with Richmond last Thursday.
Fyfe was charged with a level two engaging in rough conduct offence (225 demerit points, two-match sanction). Because of a previous poor record, his two-match sanction must remain, even with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and medical report from Gold Coast, the incident was assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a level two offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction.
He has a bad record of 50 demerit points carried over within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 275 points and a two-match ban. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 206.25 points.
Dawson was charged with a level one tripping offence (80 demerit points, reprimand).
Because of his previous poor record he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from Gold Coast, the incident was assessed as reckless (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point). This is a total of four activation points, resulting in a classification of a level one offence, drawing 80 demerit points.
He has a bad record of 60 demerit points carried over within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 140 points and a one-match ban. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 105 points and a one-match sanction.
Geelong's Taylor Hunt copped a one-match holiday for rough conduct.
