Four AFL clubs cop fines over melees

Carlton and St Kilda players involved in melees during their spiteful round eight AFL fixture have earned their clubs $10,000 fines.

The Saints’ win on May 13 was underscored by a fracas late in the third term, with tensions between the two sides fuelled by highly-personal sledges directed towards Blues skipper Marc Murphy.

Murphy was incensed at the Saints’ sledging – understood to be aimed at his wife – during the match, and directed words at Jake Carlisle while the opposition defender was injured on the ground.

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson and captain Jarryn Geary both later called Murphy and admitted the remarks had overstepped the line.

Both clubs told the AFL they didn’t want action taken over the furore.

The incident raised calls for a players’ code of conduct but AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said he did not think it was necessary.

Sydney and North Melbourne have meanwhile each been fined $5000 – half of which is suspended pending no similar actions by season’s end – over a melee between the sides in their round eight clash.

AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean said the Blues and Saints received bigger fines because their melee was more prolonged and viewed more seriously.

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