Carlton’s Adam Cerra has narrowly avoided a suspension for careless contact with an umpire, marking a challenging night at the tribunal for North Melbourne’s Tristan Xerri. Cerra became the first player to face the tribunal following the AFL’s stringent measures against careless incidents involving umpires, particularly at the centre bounce, a policy implemented last month.
Cerra admitted guilt during the proceedings, connecting via video link to receive his verdict. Carlton argued for a $5000 fine, stating that had they known of the new policy, Cerra would have contested previous charges. The AFL countered with a request for a $6250 fine, but ultimately both parties agreed on a $5550 fine after 30 minutes of deliberation.
Xerri, however, confronted a more severe situation, having appealed against a three-match suspension related to an incident involving Melbourne’s Tom Sparrow, who was knocked unconscious during a match. Xerri claimed he did not intend to make high contact, aiming only to pressure the contest. Despite his statements, tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson noted Xerri was likely to cause high contact, leading to the rejection of the appeal.
In another case, Brisbane Lions’ Zac Bailey also faced failure at the tribunal after contesting a one-match suspension for a bump on Carlton’s Nick Haynes, which was deemed careless conduct with medium impact. Despite Haynes escaping injury, the tribunal upheld Bailey’s suspension, meaning he will miss the upcoming game against the Western Bulldogs.
Overall, the tribunal sessions highlighted the AFL’s rigorous approach to player conduct, particularly concerning the safety of umpires and other players on the field.