Character, intent and impact are all set to be scrutinised when Gary Ablett fronts the AFL tribunal to challenge the first suspension of his illustrious career.
Geelong are certain to take Ablett’s charge to the tribunal on Tuesday night after he was hit with a shock one-game ban for striking Essendon’s Dylan Shiel.
It is the first suspension of the two-time Brownlow Medallist’s 328-game career.
Ablett arrived at a contest late and caught Shiel, who played out the game and was among Essendon’s best, with a raised forearm.
Match review officer Michael Christian graded the incident in the first quarter of Sunday’s game at the MCG as intentional conduct, with low impact and high contact.
Geelong can contest the charge on the basis that it was careless conduct rather than intentional or that it was insufficient force to justify a sanction.
The tribunal guidelines also allow for a player with an exemplary disciplinary record to argue they should be spared the maximum punishment.
Geelong coach Chris Scott made it clear he didn’t think the incident warranted a ban, and the overwhelming view was that Ablett would be fined.
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott – who will square off against his twin brother at Marvel Stadium on Sunday – said he fully expected Ablett to be cleared by the tribunal, a sentiment echoed by Port Adelaide counterpart Ken Hinkley.
“Gary probably made a slight error but nothing with too much intent, I don’t think at all,” Hinkley told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“If there’s a good behaviour clause, I think there’s no better good behaviour player in the competition.
“I’m not on the tribunal but I suspect that he will be free to play.”
Christian, who has witnessed several of his judgments this season be overturned by the tribunal, said he was comfortable with the grading.
“The guidelines specify that a raised forearm is usually consistent that a strike is intentional,” Christian said.
“Gary’s forearm was raised, he jumped off the ground and made contact with Dylan Shiel … we feel we’ve come to the right conclusion.”
