Chaplin, Pratt fail at AFL tribunal - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Chaplin, Pratt fail at AFL tribunal

07/07/2009 07:09:02 PM Comments (0)

Port Adelaide defender Troy Chaplin and North Melbourne backman Daniel Pratt will both serve suspensions after they failed to beat charges at the AFL Tribunal.

Chaplin will miss the Power's next two matches against Melbourne and West Coast after being found guilty of charging Brisbane youngster Daniel Rich during Saturday's match at AAMI Stadium.

Pratt has been forced out of Sunday's clash with Hawthorn in Launceston after striking Sydney's Nick Malceski at the SCG on Sunday.

They are among five players hit with suspensions from the latest AFL round after three others submitted early guilty pleas.

Melbourne's Colin Sylvia accepted a three-match suspension for striking Scott Selwood of West Coast.

Brisbane's Jared Brennan accepted a one-match sanction for headbutting Josh Carr of Port Adelaide, while Carlton's Mark Austin agreed to a one-match ban for striking Fremantle's Hayden Ballantyne.

And the Demons' Ricky Petterd was fined for abusive language.

Chaplin copped his two-match ban for an incident which left Rich concussed.

The Power defender arrived late at a marking contest, left the ground and connected with the head of Rich with his shoulder after the Lions player had marked the ball running with the flight.

Chaplin argued he was running full pace at the contest and by the time he realised he would arrive too late to mark or spoil it was impossible to avoid contact.

But he was not helped by the evidence of officiating umpire Chris Kamolins, who gave evidence that the contact was "unnecessary" and "unreasonable".

Pratt agreed he had struck Malceski, but attempted to have the charge downgraded from intentional to reckless, which would have been enough to avoid a ban.

Advocate Iain Findlay pointed to the fact the officiating umpire, who had awarded him a free kick, did not reverse the decision even though he was just a few metres away from the incident, but the argument failed to sway the tribunal.

Neither Chaplin nor Pratt could have reduced the length of their suspensions by submitting early guilty pleas, but their decision to fight the charges increases the demerit points they will carry over.

Brought to you by AAP AAP © 2024 AAP

0 Comments about this article

Post a comment about this article

Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.

« All sports news