Hawks skipper Sicily fails in AFL suspension attraction

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 assessment officer graded the round-13 incident as careless conduct, extreme influence and excessive contact.

At an attraction board listening to on Monday evening, Hawks authorized consultant Will Houghton argued there have been “a number of errors of legislation” and a “severe breach of procedural equity” within the tribunal listening to.

Houghton additionally claimed proof offered by the biomechanist the Hawks referred to as on on the tribunal listening to was ignored by the tribunal panel.

“The tribunal’s discovering was unsound,” Houghton stated.

“It was unsound due to areas of legislation, and it was unsound as a result of no tribunal appearing moderately might have come to that conclusion.

“Sicily had no alternative to fulfill the case upon which he was convicted.”

AFL authorized consultant Lisa Hannon argued there was “no related materials error of legislation” within the course of.

“The tribunal, comprised of skilled gamers, was nicely positioned to type its personal view as as to whether Sicily might’ve executed something otherwise,” Hannon stated.

The attraction board discovered no error of legislation within the tribunal’s course of and dismissed all 5 grounds for attraction on the conclusion of a listening to that lasted greater 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,” attraction board chair Murray Kellam stated.

“Nonetheless, having regards to the proof accessible and particularly the video proof … we’re unable to return to the conclusion that the tribunal got here to a call that was so unreasonable that no tribunal might have come to such a call.”

Sicily will miss Hawthorn’s matches towards Gold Coast, Carlton and GWS.

It’s the second time in three weeks Sicily has been suspended, following his one-match ban for putting St Kilda’s Anthony Caminiti in spherical 11.

Additionally on Monday, Carlton ahead Matthew Cottrell was handed a one-match suspension for his harmful deal with on Gold Coast’s Ben Lengthy.

The incident, which occurred over the past quarter of the Blues’ massive win on Sunday, was graded as careless conduct, medium influence and excessive contact.

Carlton have till Tuesday to determine whether or not to take the case to the tribunal.

GWS accepted Lachie Whitfield’s one-match for a harmful deal with on Fremantle’s Jordan Clark.

Whitfield will miss the Giants’ conflict with Melbourne after their bye.

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