The AFL wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed the opening eight matches played in round one of the 2016 Toyota AFL premiership season.



The following charges were laid:



Charges Laid:



Jeff Garlett, Melbourne, has been charged with striking Phil Davis, GWS Giants, during the first quarter of the Round One match between Melbourne and the GWS Giants, played at the MCG on Saturday March 26, 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 GWS Giants Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the head. 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.



Tom Lynch, Gold Coast Suns, has been charged with striking Mark Baguley, Essendon, during the first quarter of the Round One match between the Gold Coast Suns and Essendon, played at Metricon Stadium on Saturday March 26, 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 Essendon Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the head. 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.



Steele Sidebottom, Collingwood, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Dan Hannebery, Sydney Swans, during the third quarter of the Round One match between Collingwood and the Sydney Swans, played at the SCG on Saturday March 26, 2016.



In summary, his two-match sanction is impacted by a bad record which means the player is offered a two match penalty if he wishes to accept 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 a total of three matches suspended within the last two years which increases the penalty by one match to a three-match sanction. An early plea enables the player to accept a two-match sanction.



Jarryn Geary, St Kilda, has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Robbie Gray, Port Adelaide, during the third quarter of the Round One match between St Kilda and Port Adelaide, played at Adelaide Oval on Sunday March 27, 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 Port Adelaide Football Club, the incident was assessed as careless conduct with low impact to the head. 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.



Other Incidents Assessed:



The match day charge laid against the Adelaide Crows' Matt Crouch for making forceful high contact against North Melbourne’s Jarrad Waite was assessed. It was the view of the panel after accessing all available vision that there was no forceful high contact made to the head/neck region. Contact was made to the left shoulder / back region of Waite and it was the view of the panel that no charge should be laid. No further action was taken.



The match day charge laid against Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich for engaging in rough conduct against the Western Bulldogs’ Easton Wood was assessed. The panel said it was their view that Pavlich was seeking to contest the ball and had no realistic alternative way to contest the ball in the circumstances. No further action was taken.



The match day charge laid against the Brisbane Lions' Mitch Robinson for engaging in rough conduct against West Coast’s Xavier Ellis was assessed. The panel said that Ellis stepped into Robinson’s path and braced for contact. Robinson tried to minimise the contact by changing direction and it was the view of the panel that Robinson’s actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances. No further action was taken.