Dockers to decide on AFL ban

Fremantle will let the AFL know on Tuesday morning whether they will accept Aaron Sandiland’s one-match suspension.

The match review panel charged the star ruckman with rough conduct after he caught Richmond opponent Ben Griffiths high with a shoulder in the third term of last Friday’s pre-season game.

That earned Sandilands a two-match ban, but he can reduce the penalty to one game with an early plea.

He would risk the two games by taking the case to the tribunal.

Sandilands must serve the suspension in the regular season, meaning he would miss Fremantle’s round-one match against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

But it would not affect his eligibility for the Brownlow Medal.

On Monday, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan defended the fact that pre-season suspensions are served in the regular season.

If you open that up (serving bans in the pre-season), you allow silly things I think players need to be accountable, he told 3AW.

Also on Monday, the AFL announced two changes to the match review panel.

Retired players Chris Knights and Jason Johnson will replace Luke Ball and Brad Sewell, joining Nathan Burke and Michael Christian on the panel.

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