Elbow earns Lance Franklin one-week ban - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Elbow earns Lance Franklin one-week ban

Guy Hand 20/06/2011 07:40:52 PM Comments (0)

The AFL match review panel has claimed its third high-profile scalp in as many weeks with Hawthorn star Lance Franklin facing suspension.

Franklin was given a one-match ban among 12 charges laid by the panel after a hectic day of video review on Monday.

Franklin, the AFL's leading goalkicker this season, fell foul of the panel for his elbow to the head of Gold Coast midfielder Maverick Weller at the weekend.

His previous poor record, including two suspensions last season, means he cannot have the penalty reduced with a guilty plea.

He joins Collingwood star Dale Thomas and Geelong's Joel Selwood as having earned the wrath of the match review panel in successive weeks.

Franklin's loss - assuming the Hawks don't challenge the ruling by Tuesday lunchtime's deadline - will be a welcome relief to the Hawks' Friday night opponents Essendon.

The forward usually turns on a clinic against the Bombers, booting 24 goals against them in his past four appearances.

But team-mate Brad Sewell believes Hawthorn can cover his absence.

"He has played a couple of pretty special games against Essendon in the past, but we've shown that we've certainly been able to play very well without him, and that'll be the same this week," Sewell said.

"We've seen a couple of young guys come in (this season) and be that injection that we've needed, and they've had a real impact on games."

Sling tackles have also been heavily punished, with St Kilda ruck-forward Justin Koschitzke and Sydney ruckman Shane Mumford hit with two-week bans.

Koschitzke faces suspension for his sling tackle on Geelong's Mitch Duncan, while Mumford can accept two weeks with an early guilty plea for rough conduct over a similar tackle on Carlton's David Ellard.

Mumford was also banned for a sling tackle last season on Gary Ablett.

Geelong duo Mathew Stokes and Josh Hunt have also been hit with one-match bans for striking.

Stokes was charged over an incident involving Koschitzke, and defender Hunt for striking St Kilda's Adam Schneider.

Others to receive one-match suspensions are Essendon's Kyle Hardingham (rough conduct) and Richmond's Jake King (striking).

Geelong midfielder Joel Corey can escape with a reprimand for a sling tackle, as can Sydney forward Ryan O'Keefe for front-on contact if they make early guilty pleas.

Essendon's Brent Stanton can accept a reprimand for tripping North Melbourne's Nathan Grima because of his previous good record.

Melbourne's Tom Scully and Sydney's Nick Malceski have been given $900 fines for umpire contact.

But match-day reports against Melbourne forward Ricky Petterd and North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein were thrown out.

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