Greater Western Sydney veteran James McDonald will miss two AFL games after being suspended over an incident in the expansion club’s first match.
The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to rough conduct on Monday, after he downed Sydney youngster Luke Parker with a heavy bump during the opening term of Saturday night’s season-opener at ANZ Stadium.
McDonald was deemed by the match review panel to have acted negligently and made high contact with high impact.
He took little time to accept that verdict.
Had he fought the charge, he would have risked a three-match sanction.
No other charges were laid from Saturday night’s match.
McDonald, a former Melbourne skipper, served on the match review panel last season.
The Demons cut him at the end of the 2010, after 251 games with the club over 14 years, including two best and fairest awards.
He was one of just five players with AFL experience who played in the Giants’ opening match.
He will miss clashes with North Melbourne and West Coast.