Sydney risk nothing by taking Heath Grundy’s case to the AFL tribunal, but Geelong will have to weigh up double trouble for star utility Steve Johnson.
Last Saturday’s fierce clash between the two teams at Simonds Stadium had serious repercussions ahead of the start of their finals campaigns.
Johnson can accept a one-match ban and miss the Saturday night elimination final against Fremantle after Monday’s match review panel charged him with rough conduct against Swans onballer Dan Hannebery.
But if the Cats star takes the case to the tribunal and loses he will receive the original two-match penalty.
Johnson’s original penalty was only one match, but his bad record and carry-over demerit points took it over the two-game threshold.
Asked earlier on Monday what his reaction would be if Johnson received a suspension for the incident, Cats coach Chris Scott replied: “It would surprise me”.
The match review panel handed Grundy a one-match ban for striking Cats forward James Podsiadly.
Grundy’s absence from the Saturday afternoon qualifying final against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium would be telling, given the Swans must counter Adelaide key forwards Kurt Tippett and Taylor Walker.
He received a two-game ban, immediately halved because of his good record.
Grundy’s blow was a blatant hit but, given he cannot receive a heavier suspension, the Swans may well go to the tribunal and try to reduce it to a reprimand.
The match review panel had mixed news for the Cats – while Johnson received a suspension, he escaped penalty for pulling Hannebery to his feet immediately after their off-the-ball clash.
The league is keen to stamp out players bumping or otherwise making contact with injured opponents.
Last month, Cats captain Joel Selwood narrowly escaped suspension for making contact with an injured West Coast player – his brother Adam.
“It was the view of the panel that while Johnson’s action was unnecessary, the force involved in the action of lifting Hannebery was below that required to constitute a reportable offence,” the league said in a statement.
On Saturday night, Fremantle coach Ross Lyon went out of his way at a post-match media conference to point out that the match review panel would look at the two Cats.
But Scott doubted Lyon’s comments had any influence.
“I have a lot of respect for Ross as an operator and if he thinks it’s appropriate to comment on those things, then I’m happy to back him in,” Scott said.
“I wouldn’t (comment), but I’m a second-year coach.
“I don’t think Ross thinks he can influence the MRP – he’s good, but he ain’t that good.”
The other major match review panel charge was the six-game suspension handed to Gold Coast hard man Campbell Brown, whose season is already over.
Brown received the hefty suspension for a high front-on bump against Adelaide opponent Aiden Riley.
Brown’s heavy loading for previous offences means he risks an eight-match suspension if he fights the charge, but will miss the first six games next season if he pleads guilty.
