Shaw accepts penalty
Heath Shaw has accepted a one match suspension for striking Fremantle’s Hayden Ballantyne during the second quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the Dockers.
The defender was charged with a level three striking offence (225 demerit points equating to a two match sanction) for striking Ballantyne late in the second term.
As a result, he will miss Saturday night's blockbuster against the undefeated Geelong.
The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and groin contact (two points). It resulted in a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a level three offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two match suspension. Shaw has no existing good or bad record.
An early plea reduced the sanction by 25 per cent to 168.75 points and a one match sanction.
Geelong may also be without one of its star defenders when it takes to the field on Saturday night.
Triple premiership star James Kelly will contest a two match suspension at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night. Kelly was charged with engaging in rough conduct against Essendon's Brendon Goddard in Geelong's win on Friday night.
The incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). It is a total of five activation points which results in a classification of a Level Two offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two game suspension.
Kelly has an existing bad record (a one match suspension) within the last two years and 64.06 demerit points carried over which increases the penalty to 289.06 points and a two match ban.