The AFL tribunal has made plenty of divisive rulings on the bump this season, now they must grapple with a chokehold.
Hawthorn defender Brian Lake was directly referred to the tribunal on Monday, when the match review panel opted against grading his run-in with Drew Petrie last Friday night.
Lake will plead his case on Tuesday, having been charged with misconduct for wrestling Petrie to the ground and wrapping his sizeable hand around the North Melbourne forward’s throat.
The tribunal has the discretion to throw the book at Lake, or slap him on the wrist.
Fiery forward Barry Hall was fined $3000 for putting North Melbourne’s Scott Thompson in a tight headlock during a 2010 match.
As is the case with Lake, there were calls for Hall to be given a lengthy ban but the panel disagreed.
This time the tribunal will make that decision.
It’s unlikely Petrie will be of much assistance to the AFL legal counsel.
Petrie appeared on the Nine Network on Sunday but stuck with the time-honoured cone of silence among players when it comes to tribunal matters.
“No one was hurt. I’m comfortable with how the events played out,” Petrie said, rubbishing claims he was close to losing consciousness due to a lack of oxygen.
Petrie reacted by grabbing at Lake’s face and was charged on Monday for “making unreasonable and unnecessary contact to the face” of Lake during the scrap.
Petrie can escape with a reprimand if he submits an early plea, but risks a one-match ban if he fights the level-one misconduct charge.
Essendon’s Brendon Goddard, Brisbane midfielder Tom Rockliff and West Coast forward Josh Kennedy are all facing one-match bans.
Goddard was given a two-match ban for engaging in rough conduct against Kane Cornes, but an early plea will shave a week off his suspension.
Rockliff was charged for striking Richmond defender Alex Rance.
Due to his existing poor record and previous carry-over points, Rockliff will miss Saturday’s clash with West Coast even if he submits an early plea.
Kennedy’s six-year good record means his level-three rough conduct charge will only result in a one-match ban with an early plea.
Kennedy collected Zak Jones with a head-high bump on Sunday that forced the Sydney youngster to be substituted out of the game due to concussion.
GWS ruckman Shane Mumford (striking) and North Melbourne’s Luke McDonald (tripping) were both charged but won’t be banned.
Gold Coast defender Rory Thompson (striking) can escape with a reprimand, while Brisbane’s Claye Beams can accept a $1950 fine for making contact with an umpire.
