Ricciuto, Bartel face suspension - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Ricciuto, Bartel face suspension

By Roger Vaughan 07/08/2006 08:31:09 PM Comments (0)

Adelaide captain Mark Ricciuto and Geelong onballer Jimmy Bartel face suspension, dealing their sides potentially major blows less than a month from the AFL finals.

Ricciuto faces a two-game suspension for striking Collingwood defender James Clement although that becomes one match with an early guilty plea.

Bartel faces at least two games on the sidelines after the match review panel charged him with rough conduct.

The two clubs will have until 11am on Tuesday to decide whether to take the cases to the tribunal.

Poor records hurt the two players, with Ricciuto's residual points from late last season just taking him over the two-game threshold.

Those carry-over points were from a one-game striking suspension in round 22, which sidelined him for the qualifying final.

In Bartel's case, he originally faced a two-game ban for rough play against Brisbane youngster Troy Selwood but, again, that increased to three because of his record and residual points.

While Bartel could accept two games with an early plea, the Cats seem more likely to roll the dice at the tribunal given they are two games outside the top eight with four rounds left.

Ricciuto and Bartel are key, in-form players for their clubs.

The Crows skipper leads his team's goalkicking for the season with 44.

Adelaide could now go into Sunday's home game against in-form Fremantle without its two leading goalkickers, as a hamstring injury is likely to sideline Brett Burton.

The Crows are coming off a hiding from West Coast and a scrappy win over Collingwood, while the Dockers are on a five-game winning streak.

Bartel has been a standout this year in the Cats midfield and will feature prominently in their best-and-fairest voting.

If he takes the early plea, Bartel would miss Sunday's Telstra Dome game against St Kilda and the Skilled Stadium match the following Saturday against Sydney.

The Saints and Swans are among five teams who are two wins ahead of the ninth-placed Cats on the ladder.

Meanwhile, Richmond forward Kayne Pettifer can accept a $900 fine for abusive language, while Collingwood's Brodie Holland and Tarkyn Lockyer and Adelaide defender Graham Johncock all face $900 wrestling fines.

The match review panel also gave Magpies forward Alan Didak a reprimand for tripping.

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