Geelong star Steve Johnson faces a one-match AFL ban which is set to keep him out of AFL’s round-one Easter Monday blockbuster against arch-rivals Hawthorn.
Johnson was charged on Monday with striking Fremantle small forward Hayden Ballantyne after hitting Ballantyne’s chest during the NAB cup round one mini-game in Perth on Saturday.
The Dockers’ serial pest fell to the ground and the match review panel ruled the contact was worth a one-match suspension.
Johnson’s poor record means even he accepts the penalty, he is out for one match.
The Cats would risk a two-match ban if they take the case to the tribunal.
Cats coach Chris Scott had been confident after the game that Johnson would not be punished for the incident.
“There tends to be not too much friction in NAB (Cup round) one,” Scott said.
“I didn’t really see what happened and I know he (Ballantyne) was down for a long time.
“But I was more concerned with how quickly he got up to set up the next goal.
“He didn’t look too bad did he?”
Also on Monday, Essendon key forward Michael Hurley was cleared of making contact to the face of Western Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney.
The panel looked at a medical report from the Bulldogs before ruling that the force used in the Friday-night incident was not enough to warrant a charge.