The AFL has taken it’s first crack at Fremantle for the year (if don’t count forcing two pre-season games against the Eagles on them) with the extraordinary attack on Nat Fyfe’s good name and Brownlow Medal eligibility by handing out a two match suspension for some innocuous body contact on Michael Rischitelli, if that is his real name, during the third quarter on Saturday night. The “rough” conduct was deemed as negligent, medium and high which gets thrown into the AFL computer and spat out as a two week penalty, regardless. 

Nathan Fyfe, Fremantle, has been charged with a Level Two Engaging in Rough Conduct Offence (225 demerit points, two-match sanction), for engaging in rough conduct against Michael Rischitelli, Gold Coast, during the third quarter of the Round Two match between Fremantle and Gold Coast, at Patersons Stadium on Saturday March 29, 2014.

In summary, due to his previous poor record, his two-match sanction must remain at two matches, even with an early plea.

Based on the video evidence available and medical report from the Gold Coast SUNS Football Club, the incident was assessed as negligent conduct (one point), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two Offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He has a bad record of 50 demerit points carried over within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 275 points and a two-match sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 206.25 points and a two-match sanction.

Zac Dawson was also up before the match review panel and was given a week for tripping a Matera, which is actually expected to improve his Brownlow medal chances.