Geelong key forward Tom Hawkins will miss Friday’s preliminary final against Richmond after the AFL tribunal upheld the match review officer’s original decision of a one-week ban for striking.
After an hour-long hearing on Monday night, the tribunal took only seven minutes to reject Geelong’s submission that the strike was unintentional.
The full-forward struck West Coast defender Will Schofield in last week’s semi-final win and immediately apologised to the Eagle.
His loss is a huge blow for the Cats as they seek to make the grand final after finishing the home-and-away season on top of the ladder.
When Hawkins sprayed 0.4 in the qualifying final against Collingwood, the Cats lost by 10 points. When he kicked 4.1 last Friday night in the semi-final win over West Coast, they won by 20.
Geelong is 0-3 in preliminary finals since its 2011 premiership.
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Greater Western Sydney livewire Toby Greene will try his luck with the tribunal in overturning his one-week ban on Tuesday night.
He was charged with making unreasonable or unnecessary contact to the eye region of Brisbane’s Lachie Neale.
The Giants play Collingwood in a Saturday twilight match at the MCG.
Greene had a good game for GWS on Saturday night in the epic semi-final win over Brisbane at the Gabba. But he also maintained his reputation for match review trouble.
He will be back at the tribunal only a week after his direct referral on a misconduct charge.
It also involved several incidents where he made contact with the face of Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli.
Greene pleaded guilty at the tribunal last Monday and was fined $7500.
Match reviewer Michael Christian said the incident with Neale was judged on its merits and there was no connection with last week’s charge.
Meanwhile, Brisbane goalsneak Charlie Cameron has accepted a $2000 sanction for engaging in rough conduct against Zac Williams during the semi-final loss to GWS.
Lions midfielder Dayne Zorko has accepted a $1500 sanction for striking GWS ruckman Shane Mumford.
-AAP
The post AFL: Tribunal upholds Tom Hawkins’ one-week ban, Toby Greene to front on Tuesday appeared first on The New Daily.
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