Geelong coach Chris Scott could not hide his disappointment at a one match ban handed to Steve Johnson by the AFL match review panel.
Johnson was given a one match misconduct ban for a clash with tagger Ryan Crowley in Saturday night’s loss to Fremantle.
But it’s his poor record that means he must accept a one week ban with an early plea or risk a two week ban if unsuccessful at the tribunal.
“He put his head where he shouldn’t have,” Scott said.
“It’s a series of very minor indiscretions which is adding up to a decent penalty.”
Johnson has missed five weeks through suspensions over the last two seasons.
The club will consider whether to appeal the ban before a potential tribunal hearing on Tuesday night.
Johnson was charged with a level one misconduct offence after slightly leaning his head towards Crowley and making contact with the tagger’s face as the pair jogged along.
Under normal circumstances, Johnson would have been able to escape with a reprimand.
But his existing bad record, plus 71.78 carryover points, increased the penalty from 125 demerit points to 234.28 and a two-match ban.
An early guilty plea will reduce the suspension to one game.
Johnson was suspended three times last season, and his latest ban rules him out of Friday night’s crunch clash with North Melbourne at Simonds Stadium.
In a rare dose of good news for Johnson, he was cleared of his fourth-quarter clash with Michael Barlow.
Fremantle ruckman Zac Clarke can escape with a reprimand if he takes the early guilty plea for his elbow to the face of Johnson.
He risks a one-match ban if he challenges the finding.
Melbourne forward Chris Dawes is facing a one-match ban for striking Alex Rance during the Demons’ upset win over the Tigers on Saturday.
The level-three striking charge drew 225 demerit points, but that will be reduced to 168.75 with an early guilty plea.
Sydney Swans veteran Nick Malceski was cleared of any wrongdoing over his sickening clash with umpire Troy Pannell.
Pannell was knocked unconscious by the incident and was stretchered off the ground.
The MRP said the collision was nothing more than an accident, with Malceski’s focus clearly on the play.
Sydney’s Dan Hannebery was cleared of any wrongdoing over his collision with Essendon’s Michael Hurley.