Lachie Neale to challenge one-match AFL suspension — ABC News Australia
In Australia, the Brisbane Lions will challenge Lachie Neale's one-match suspension for striking Hawthorn player Jack Ginnivan in the AFL preliminary final. If the decision is upheld, Neale will be unable to play in the grand final against Fremantle, scheduled for Saturday.
As ABC News Australia reports, Neale's strike to Ginnivan's stomach was classified as intentional conduct with medium impact and body contact. The case will be heard by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday.
Exceptional circumstances
Brisbane plans to invoke an AFL rules provision on exceptional and compelling circumstances. It provides that a player with an exemplary disciplinary record may argue that their record constitutes such a circumstance when a classified offence is challenged or referred to the tribunal.
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At the same time, a good disciplinary reputation alone does not guarantee a reduced sanction. Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson stressed that the provision is not a so-called “good person clause”, but specifically concerns exceptional and compelling circumstances.
The Pendlebury case
The club also intends to refer to the March case involving Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury. At that time, a proposed one-match suspension for misconduct after pushing Adelaide's Josh Worrell was replaced with a fine of 3,000 Australian dollars.
Neale has played 320 matches, won the Brownlow Medal twice, been named All-Australian four times and, according to ABC, has not previously been suspended. His teammate Jarrod Berry said the team would await the tribunal's decision and hopes the sanction will be overturned.
