MRO / Tribunal Outcomes – TSL Grand Finals
Note: Reportable Offences in a Grand Final
The Controlling Body or Tribunal (as applicable) may apply (at its absolute discretion) a loading of up to 100% in relation to the base sanction for any Reportable Offence committed during a Grand Final.
TSL Grand Final: Kingborough v North Launceston
(1) Nathan Pearce (North Launceston) was charged for Intentionally or Carelessly bumping or making forceful contact to opponent Nic Baker (Kingborough) from front-on when that Player had their head down over the football.
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable incident as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact and in accordance with AFL national community handbook rules, the prescribed sanction for the reportable offence, including a 100% grand final loading, is a four-match suspension however with submission of an early guilty plea, the player could have accepted a two match suspension.
North Launceston challenged the charge at the tribunal on Tuesday 26 September. Player Pearce pleaded guilty to the charge on the basis it was re-graded to careless contact and not intentional. The tribunal agreed to hear all evidence and reconsider the appropriate sanction.
The tribunal upheld the original charge but decided to exercise its discretion and waive the 100% grand final loading due to the low impact of the contact.
Player Pearce received a two-match sanction.
TSL Development League Grand Final: North Hobart v North Launceston
(1) Brad Rickard (North Launceston) was charged for attempting to strike Cooper Leek (North Hobart)
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable incident as a Low Level offence. In accordance with AFL Community Football Policy Handbook 2023, based on the grading above and including the 100% Grand Final loading, the prescribed Base Sanction for the Reportable Offence is a one-match suspension. However, with submission of an Early Guilty Plea, the Charged Person can accept an Early Guilty Plea penalty of a reprimand.
Please note – The MRO elected not to impose the Grand Final loading of up to 100% due to this incident being graded as a Low-Level Offence.
Player Rickard accepted the early guilty plea.
(2) Jasper French (North Launceston) was reported for spitting in the face of Finlay Poke (North Hobart).
This matter was sent directly to the Tribunal and was heard on Tuesday 26 September.
Assessing the evidence presented by all parties – including the officiating umpire – the Tribunal concluded that spittle had not made contact with Player Poke and that this was a low level offence for spitting at another player.
Player French accepted a reprimand, in line with penalties normally awarded for low level offences where a player admits guilt.
(3) Jasper French (North Launceston) was charged for Intentionally striking Lachlan Payne (North Hobart)
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable incident as intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact.
A five-match suspension was given, with a grand final loading of 60% applied, taking the sanction to eight matches. This loading is discretionary, and the tribunal felt eight matches an appropriate sanction after all aspects of this incident were considered.
Player French accepted an eight -match suspension.
(4) Josh Cleaver (North Hobart) was reported for engaging in Rough Conduct against Jasper French (North Launceston)
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable incident as intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact.
In accordance with AFL Community Football Policy Handbook 2023, based on the grading above and including the 100% Grand Final loading, the prescribed Base Sanction for the Reportable Offence is a six-match suspension. However, with submission of an Early Guilty Plea, the Charged Person can accept an Early Guilty Plea penalty of a four-match suspension.
North Hobart challenged the charge at the tribunal on Tuesday 26 September. The Tribunal found that there was infficient evidence to uphold the sanction, and acquitted player Cleaver.
(5) Hugh Williams (North Hobart) was reported for Intentionally striking Jasper French (North Launceston).
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable incident as intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact. Due to the grading, the incident was referred directly to the Tribunal. The case was heard by the Tribunal on Tuesday 26 September.
Player Williams pleaded guilty to the charge.
Evidence presented determined that Player French was not knocked unconscious from the impact.
The Tribunal in its deliberations, did not regrade the charge, stating the blow was of such a serious nature and that there was potential to cause serious injury. The Tribunal subsequently passed a sanction of an eight match suspension. There was a five match base sanction with sixty percent/three match grand final loading applied.
Player Williams accepted an eight-match suspension.
(6) Cooper Leek (North Hobart) was charged for attempting to strike Brad Rickard (North Launceston).
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable offence as a low level offence.
In accordance with AFL Community Football Policy Handbook 2023, based on the grading above and including the 100% Grand Final loading, the prescribed Base Sanction for the Reportable Offence is a one-match suspension. However, with submission of an Early Guilty Plea, the Charged Person can accept an Early Guilty Plea penalty of a reprimand.
Please note – The MRO elected not to impose the Grand Final loading of up to 100% due to this incident being graded as a Low-Level Offence.
Player Leek accepted the early guilty plea.
(7) Coby Chugg (North Launceston) was reported for Intentionally striking Brad Tilbury (North Hobart).
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable offence as intentional conduct, low impact and contact to the body.
In accordance with AFL Community Football Policy Handbook 2023, based on the grading above and including the 100% Grand Final loading, the prescribed Base Sanction for the Reportable Offence is a two-match suspension. However, with submission of an Early Guilty Plea, the Charged Person can accept an Early Guilty Plea penalty of a one-match suspension.
(8) Coby Chugg was reported for using abusive language towards or in relation to an Umpire.
In line with the AFL Tasmania Umpire abuse matrix, the MRO graded the incident as ‘low loudness with insulting language’.
In accordance with AFL Community Football Policy Handbook 2023, based on the grading above, the prescribed Base Sanction for the Reportable Offence is a three-match suspension. However, with submission of an Early Guilty Plea, the Charged Person can accept an Early Guilty Plea penalty of a two-match suspension.
Please note – The MRO has elected to not apply the Grand Final loading of up to 100% due to this offence not being graded as a “Classifiable Offence.
(9) Coby Chugg (North Launceston) was reported for Intentionally striking Trent Millhouse (North Hobart)
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable offence as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
In accordance with AFL Community Football Policy Handbook 2023, based on the grading above and including the 100% Grand Final loading, the prescribed Base Sanction for the Reportable Offence is a four-match suspension. However, with submission of an Early Guilty Plea, the Charged Person can accept an Early Guilty Plea penalty of a two-match suspension.
(10) Coby Chugg (North Launceston) was reported for Intentionally striking Trent Millhouse (North Hobart).
The Match Review Officer graded the reportable offence as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
In accordance with AFL Community Football Policy Handbook 2023, based on the grading above and including the 100% Grand Final loading, the prescribed Base Sanction for the Reportable Offence is a four-match suspension. However, with submission of an Early Guilty Plea, the Charged Person can accept an Early Guilty Plea penalty of a two-match suspension.
Multiple offences in a single match – Coby Chugg (North Launceston)
Where a Person is found guilty of multiple Reportable Offences from a single match, the individual sanctions must be added together to form the final sanction applicable to the Person.
Therefore, the total sanction issued to Player Chugg from this match due to four reportable incidents was a 13-match suspension, reduced to a seven-match suspension with an Early Guilty Plea submission on all four charges.
Player Chugg accepted the early guilty plea on all four charges and the seven-match suspension.
