MATCH Review Panel chairman Mark Fraser has defended the decision to suspend Fremantle star Nat Fyfe earlier this season, disputing the assertion that MRP interpretations have since changed.



Fyfe was ruled ineligible for the Brownlow Medal when he accepted a rough conduct charge in round two for a bump on Gold Coast's Michael Rischitelli that caused an accidental head clash.



The 22-year-old has put together an outstanding season and leads the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award. He is strongly tipped to poll the most votes on Brownlow Medal night.



Fyfe's recent run of form has thrown his rough conduct charge back into the spotlight, with his management company Stride Sports reportedly exploring ways to challenge the young star's ineligibility.



Fraser defended the MRP's decision on Tuesday and said if the incident happened in round 21 it would draw the same penalty.



"Absolutely – it is a definite rough conduct charge the way we grade things this year," Fraser told The Verdict on AFL.com.au.



"With that same incident occurring during this weekend, exactly the same penalty would occur.



"This year the Tribunal guidelines were changed to include that head clashes were going to be cited for rough conduct and not [deemed] accidental or circumstances outside the control of the player, which we had done previously.



"He elects to bump him and makes high contact and it ends up being a head clash."



Fremantle did not challenge Fyfe's charge at the Tribunal, accepting a two-week suspension and 6.25 carryover points.



Since Fyfe’s suspension, Melbourne midfielder Jack Viney successfully challenged a rough conduct charge at the Appeals Board and Sydney Swans star Lance Frankin was cleared despite executing a similar bump to Fyfe's in round 12.



Fraser defended the MRP's decisions this season.



"People are going to have differing opinions to us and that's what we're there to do, to make those decisions," he said.



"We endeavour to be consistent through the whole process and I think we do a reasonable job."



Should he poll the most votes on Brownlow Medal night, Fyfe would join Corey McKernan (1996) and Chris Grant (1997) as players to miss out on winning the prestigious award only because of suspension.



League football operations boss Mark Evans on Monday said: "I can’t envisage any system in the future where someone is suspended and is then eligible for the Brownlow".

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