The AFL wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed the matches played in week one of the 2016 Toyota AFL Finals Series. The following charges were laid:



Charges laid:

Tom Ruggles, Geelong Cats, has been charged with striking Cyril Rioli, Hawthorn, during the third quarter of the Second Qualifying Final between the Geelong Cats and Hawthorn, played at the MCG on Friday September 9, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.



Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Hawthorn Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the body. The incident was classified as a $1500 sanction. The player has no applicable record which impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.



Steve Johnson, GWS Giants, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Josh Kennedy, Sydney Swans, during the first quarter of the First Qualifying Final between the GWS Giants and the Sydney Swans, played at ANZ Stadium on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.



Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Sydney Swans Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with medium impact to the head. The incident was classified as a two-match sanction. The player has no applicable record which impacts the penalty. An early plea enables the player to accept a one-match sanction.



Kyle Hartigan, Adelaide Crows, has been charged with tripping Lindsay Thomas, North Melbourne, during the second quarter of the First Elimination Final between the Adelaide Crows and North Melbourne, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.



Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the North Melbourne Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the body. The incident was the second classifiable offence for the player and was therefore classified as a $2500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1500 sanction.



Drew Petrie, North Melbourne, has been charged with being the instigator of a melee during the second quarter of the First Elimination Final between North Melbourne and the Adelaide Crows, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.



A first offence for being the instigator of a melee is a $2500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1500 sanction.



Jack Ziebell, North Melbourne, has been charged with a second offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the First Elimination Final between North Melbourne and the Adelaide Crows, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.



A second offence for being involved in a melee is a $2500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1500 sanction.



Andrew Swallow, North Melbourne, has been charged with a first offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the First Elimination Final between North Melbourne and the Adelaide Crows, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.



A first offence for being involved in a melee is a $1500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.



Shaun Higgins, North Melbourne, has been charged with a first offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the First Elimination Final between North Melbourne and the Adelaide Crows, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.



A first offence for being involved in a melee is a $1500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.



Daniel Talia, Adelaide Crows, has been charged with a first offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the First Elimination Final between the Adelaide Crows and North Melbourne, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.



A first offence for being involved in a melee is a $1500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.



Kyle Cheney, Adelaide Crows, has been charged with a first offence of being involved in a melee during the second quarter of the First Elimination Final between the Adelaide Crows and North Melbourne, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1000 sanction with an early plea.



A first offence for being involved in a melee is a $1500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1000 sanction.



Michael Firrito, North Melbourne, has been charged with striking Sam Jacobs, Adelaide Crows, during the third quarter of the First Elimination Final between North Melbourne and the Adelaide Crows, played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday September 10, 2016.



In summary, he can accept a $1500 sanction with an early plea.



Based on the available video evidence and a medical report from the Adelaide Crows Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct with low impact to the body. The incident was the second classifiable offence for the player and was therefore classified as a $2500 sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a $1500 sanction.



Other incidents assessed

Contact between Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis and the Geelong Cats' Joel Selwood from the first quarter of Friday’s match was assessed. Lewis disposed of the ball when he was pulled to the ground by his opponent Selwood. As Lewis was getting up, he made contact with Selwood to the chest area. It was the view of the panel the impact was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.



Contact between the Geelong Cats' Steven Motlop and Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell from the first quarter of Friday's match was assessed. Mitchell has the ball and handballs as Motlop makes contact to his opponent from behind. Geelong's Mitch Duncan was also coming to the contest and bumped Mitchell to the ground as Motlop was making simultaneous contact from behind. It was the view of the panel that the force used by Motlop was below that required for a report. No further action was taken.



Contact between Hawthorn's Luke Hodge and the Geelong Cats' Joel Selwood from the end of the third quarter was assessed. The impact was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.



Contact between the Sydney Swans' Gary Rohan and the GWS Giants' Heath Shaw from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Rohan made glancing contact to Shaw and it was the view of the panel that the impact was below that required to constitute a reportable offence.



Contact between the GWS Giants' Shane Mumford and the Sydney Swans' Kurt Tippett from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. Tippett took the ball in a contest and was immediately tackled by the Giants' Lachie Whitfield around the lower body. Mumford joins the tackle and holds Tippett around the waist and starts taking him to ground. Mumford has hold of Tippett's right arm while Whitfield's tackle falls to the thing/knee area, off-balancing the Sydney player. Tippett's right shoulder and right side of his body make contact with the turf, while his head does not hit the ground at any stage during the tackle. Tippett remains on the ground after the play is completed. After discussion with the club and the receipt of a medical report, the MRP was able to determine that player Tippett had been injured in an earlier ruck contest but sustained no injury specific to this tackle. It was the view of the panel that the absence of any head contact to the ground and insufficient forceful body contact meant that no charge would be laid. No further action was taken.





