Hawthorn captain James Sicily has failed in his bid to overturn a three-match ban for the damaging sort out that led to Brisbane Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage struggling a concussion.
Key factors:
James Sicily will miss three weeks after his sort out led to Lions star Hugh McCluggage being knocked outIt’s the second time in three weeks Sicily has been suspendedSicily will miss Hawthorn’s matches towards Gold Coast, Carlton and GWS
Sicily was suspended by the tribunal final week after the match assessment officer graded the round-13 incident as careless conduct, extreme impression and excessive contact.
At an enchantment board listening to on Monday evening, Hawks authorized consultant Will Houghton argued there have been “a number of errors of legislation” and a “severe breach of procedural equity” within the tribunal listening to.
Houghton additionally claimed proof offered by the biomechanist the Hawks referred to as on on the tribunal listening to was ignored by the tribunal panel.
“The tribunal’s discovering was unsound,” Houghton mentioned.
“It was unsound due to areas of legislation, and it was unsound as a result of no tribunal performing moderately might have come to that conclusion.
“Sicily had no alternative to fulfill the case upon which he was convicted.”
AFL authorized consultant Lisa Hannon argued there was “no related materials error of legislation” within the course of.
“The tribunal, comprised of skilled gamers, was effectively positioned to type its personal view as as to if Sicily might’ve accomplished something in another way,” Hannon mentioned.
The enchantment board discovered no error of legislation within the tribunal’s course of and dismissed all 5 grounds for enchantment on the conclusion of a listening to that lasted greater than three hours.
“We settle for that it is a tough case and naturally we settle for, as submitted by counsel for the AFL, that cheap minds might differ in such circumstances,” enchantment board chair Murray Kellam mentioned.
“Nevertheless, having regards to the proof obtainable and particularly the video proof … we’re unable to come back to the conclusion that the tribunal got here to a choice that was so unreasonable that no tribunal might have come to such a choice.”
Sicily will miss Hawthorn’s matches towards Gold Coast, Carlton and GWS.
It’s the second time in three weeks Sicily has been suspended, following his one-match ban for putting St Kilda’s Anthony Caminiti in spherical 11.
Additionally on Monday, Carlton ahead Matthew Cottrell was handed a one-match suspension for his harmful sort out on Gold Coast’s Ben Lengthy.
The incident, which occurred over the last quarter of the Blues’ large win on Sunday, was graded as careless conduct, medium impression and excessive contact.
Carlton have till Tuesday to resolve whether or not to take the case to the tribunal.
GWS accepted Lachie Whitfield’s one-match for a harmful sort out on Fremantle’s Jordan Clark.
Whitfield will miss the Giants’ conflict with Melbourne after their bye.
AAP
