Freo’s Fyfe suspended, fines aplenty after fiery derby
Two-time Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe has received a one-match ban for striking while 14 players across West Coast and Fremantle have been fined for a melee that headlined a fiery western derby.
Fyfe is set to miss top-four aspirant Fremantle’s crunch clash with Essendon at the MCG on Sunday for his high off-the-ball strike on West Coast’s Jai Culley.
His hit in the second quarter of the Dockers’ 35-point win on Saturday at Optus Stadium was considered high contact, intentional conduct and low impact, drawing a week’s suspension.
Eagles speedster Jack Petruccelle and mid-season draftee Jack Hutchinson each received a one-match ban for rough conduct on Fremantle ruckman Sean Darcy and Andrew Brayshaw respectively.
Both incidents were considered careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
Fourteen players across the two teams, including Freo star Brayshaw and West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen, received fines for engaging in a melee/wrestle that occurred in the third quarter.
Elsewhere, talented young Gold Coast defender Bodhi Uwland has received a one-match ban for rough conduct (careless conduct, medium impact, high contact) on Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale.
AFL Rising Star favourite George Wardlaw remains eligible to win the prestigious award despite being cited by the league’s match review officer for tripping.
North Melbourne’s Wardlaw was charged after he stuck out his right leg and tripped Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh during Saturday’s clash in Hobart.
The incident occurred during the second quarter of the Kangaroos’ 40-point defeat, graded intentional conduct, low impact and body contact.
The grading allowed Wardlaw to escape with a $2500 early plea fine, when a suspension would have ruled him out of Rising Star contention.
Previous contenders Harley Reid and Sam Darcy are both ineligible after being suspended earlier this season.
Their bans led to fierce debate over Rising Star eligibility rules, with AFL football boss Laura Kane rejecting widespread calls for suspended players to be allowed to win.
Wardlaw remains the favourite for this year’s award ahead of teammate Colby McKercher, Cats sensation Oliver Dempsey and Melbourne’s Caleb Windsor.
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