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Blow for Swans as Geappen, Ames to miss Royals match

Swan Districts will be without their two bookends for Saturday's clash against league leaders East Perth in Bunbury, with Tim Geappen and captain Tallen Ames to miss the crucial game.

Geappen yesterday accepted a one-match ban for rough conduct after being charged over his heavy bump against West Perth's Dan Hunt from Saturday's loss at HBF Arena. The club opted not to challenge the offer from the WAFL match review panel.

Geappen has booted 37 majors this season to sit fourth in the league's goal-kicking tally.

Ames has also been ruled out this week as he recovers from a bout of concussion. The 30-year-old was taken from the field on a stretcher late in the second quarter after a sling tackle from Laine Rasmussen.

The Falcon had been offered a three-game ban by the WAFL report review panel but was last night cleared after WAFL Tribunal chairman Paul Heaney refused to accept his guilty plea.

Rasmussen pleaded guilty at the tribunal but sought to have the charge downgraded.

But after hearing evidence from both players, Heaney said Rasmussen's guilty plea was not warranted and that the charge could not be sustained.

Swan Matthew Rogers accepted a reprimand after being found guilty of rough conduct from the same match, while a striking charge against Graham Jetta was withdrawn.

East Perth will retain fringe Eagle Simon Tunbridge after the midfielder escaped with a reprimand for a rough conduct charge.

·South Fremantle's clash against Peel Thunder in round 23 has been moved from Friday night to a Saturday afternoon game on August 30.