St Albans will be without Tom Higgins for Saturday’s trip to Colac after the star forward accepted a one-match suspension for an incident in last week’s loss to St Mary’s.
Higgins, who has kicked 16 goals in the opening four rounds of the season, was cited for rough conduct on Saints talisman Paddy Dowling during the second quarter.
AFL Barwon’s Match Review Panel graded the offence as careless conduct, medium impact, and high contact, drawing a two-match sanction.
However, the West Australian’s early guilty plea will see him return for next week’s meeting with South Barwon.
Also serving a suspension is St Joseph’s midfielder Josh Nurnaitis.
He was charged with striking North Shore’s Jack O’Brien during the second quarter of Joeys’ win at Windsor Park.
The incident was assessed as intentional conduct, medium impact, and body contact, with a two-match suspension reduced to one match with an early guilty plea, ruling Nurnaitis out of Saturday night’s clash with St Mary’s.
In the GDFNL, Anakie and Inverleigh have been handed $500 fines following a melee during the final quarter of a fiery clash at AA Semi-Trailers Oval.
From that melee, Roo James Vandenberg has accepted a one-match suspension with an early guilty plea for rough conduct on Boe Collins.
The MRP graded the incident, in which Collins made contact with the fence, as intentional conduct, medium impact, and body contact.
Hawk veteran Dean Muir escaped with a reprimand for striking Anakie recruit Sam Hoffman, with the incident assessed as intentional conduct, low impact, and body contact.
A charge laid against Roo Josh Alessi for alleged rough conduct on Brayden Warren was withdrawn.
In the Geelong West-Corio clash at Scaada Stadium, a second-quarter incident involving Giant Nick Butters and Devil Matt Jelenic was scrutinised.
Butters has accepted a one-match suspension for striking Jelenic, and Jelenic has taken a reprimand for attempting to strike Butters.
Werribee Centrals will be without Daryl Chesterman for its meeting with the Belmont Lions after he took the early guilty plea after being reported for striking Thomson’s Cooper Judd during the third quarter of the Centurions’ win at Godfrey Street.
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