THE AFL TRIBUNAL’S HEAVIEST RECENT SUSPENSIONS
* STEVEN BAKER – nine games (total) in 2010
Pleaded guilty to three charges of striking Geelong’s Steve Johnson, and lost an appeal against a fourth charge of misconduct for hitting Johnson’s broken hand in the same game.
“These actions, over a short period of time on Friday night, are not a true reflection of the brand of football Steven Baker or St Kilda Football Club pride themselves on,” Saints CEO Michael Nettlefold said.
* DEAN SOLOMON – eight games in 2008
Caught Cameron Ling flush with a menacing elbow after the Geelong tagger had dished off a handball. Ling suffered a compressed fracture of the cheekbone.
“I’m quite ashamed of my actions,” Solomon said.
* BARRY HALL – seven games in 2008
The sickening left hook that rattled Brent Staker’s jaw and knocked the West Coast defender out became one of the enduring images of `Big Bad Barry’.
“Seven weeks we think’s fair … I will try and better myself so it doesn’t happen again,” Hall said.
* STEVEN BAKER – seven games in 2007
The off-the-ball collision that left Fremantle forward Jeff Farmer concussed and bloodied was not captured on TV coverage. That made for a contentious night at the tribunal – and a failed appeal from the Saints.
“I can’t see how it got to the tribunal. It was like he was already sort of guilty before he got there,” Baker’s father Greg.
* BYRON PICKETT – six games in 2005
* BRODIE HOLLAND – six games in 2006
* JEFF FARMER – six games in 2007
* BEN JOHNSON – six games in 2007
* CAMPBELL BROWN – six games in 2012
(Footnote: suspensions listed were restricted to those given after the match review panel was introduced for the 2005 season)