Hawthorn captain James Sicily has failed in his bid to overturn a three-match ban for the harmful deal with that led to Brisbane Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage’s concussion.
Sicily was suspended by the tribunal final week after the match evaluate officer graded the round-13 incident as careless conduct, extreme influence and excessive contact.
At an enchantment board listening to on Monday night time, Hawks authorized consultant Will Houghton argued there have been “several errors of law” and a “serious breach of procedural fairness” within the tribunal listening to.
Houghton additionally claimed proof offered by the biomechanist the Hawks known as on on the tribunal listening to was ignored by the tribunal panel.
“The tribunal’s finding was unsound,” Houghton stated.
“It was unsound because of areas of law, and it was unsound because no tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that conclusion.
“Sicily had no alternative to fulfill the case upon which he was convicted.”
AFL legal representative Lisa Hannon argued there was “no related materials error of regulation” within the course of.
“The tribunal, comprised of skilled gamers, was nicely positioned to kind its personal view as as to if Sicily might’ve achieved something in another way,” Hannon said.
The appeal board found no error of law in the tribunal’s process and dismissed all five grounds for appeal at the conclusion of a hearing that lasted more than three hours.
“We settle for that this can be a tough case and naturally we settle for, as submitted by counsel for the AFL, that cheap minds could differ in such circumstances,” appeal board chair Murray Kellam said.
“However, having regards to the proof out there and specifically the video proof … we’re unable to come back to the conclusion that the tribunal got here to a choice that was so unreasonable that no tribunal might have come to such a choice.”
Sicily will miss Hawthorn’s matches against Gold Coast, Carlton and GWS.
It is the second time in three weeks Sicily has been suspended, following his one-match ban for striking St Kilda’s Anthony Caminiti in round 11.
Also on Monday, Carlton forward Matthew Cottrell was handed a one-match suspension for his dangerous tackle on Gold Coast’s Ben Long.
The incident, which occurred during the last quarter of the Blues’ big win on Sunday, was graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
Carlton have until Tuesday to decide whether to take the case to the tribunal.
GWS accepted Lachie Whitfield’s one-match for a dangerous tackle on Fremantle’s Jordan Clark.
Whitfield will miss the Giants’ conflict with Melbourne after their bye.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
