Essendon ruckman David Hille has been cleared to play against Port Adelaide on Saturday after his charge of engaging in rough conduct was dropped this afternoon.
 
Andrew Welsh remains in doubt for Saturday's game after being offered a four week suspension for a striking charge.
 
Welsh can reduce his suspension to three games with an early plea. Essendon will make a decision on whether to contest the charge tomorrow morning.
 
An incident involving Dustin Fletcher was also assessed but no further action was taken.
 
 
The AFL wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed the matches played from the weekend. The following charges were laid:

Charges Laid:

Andrew Welsh, Essendon, has been charged with a Level Four misconduct offence for kneeing Xavier Ellis, Hawthorn, during the third quarter of the Round Six match between Essendon and Hawthorn, played at the MCG on Saturday May 1, 2010.

In summary, he can accept a three-match sanction with an early plea.

The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), medium impact (two points) and groin contact (two points). This is a total of seven activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Four offence, drawing 425 demerit points and a four-match sanction. He has no existing good or bad record. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 318.75 points and a three-match sanction.

James McDonald, Melbourne, has been charged with a Level Two striking offence against Andrew Swallow, North Melbourne, during the fourth quarter of the Round Six match between Melbourne and North Melbourne, played at Etihad Stadium on Saturday May 1, 2010.

In summary, his five-year good record means that he can accept a reprimand and 70.31 points towards his future record with an early plea.

The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has an existing five-year good record which reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 70.31 points towards his future record.

Jude Bolton, Sydney Swans, has been charged with a Level One offence for bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Joel Patfull, Brisbane Lions, during the first quarter of the Round Six match between the Sydney Swans and the Brisbane Lions, played at the SCG on Saturday May 1, 2010.

In summary, he can accept a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record with an early plea.

The incident was assessed as negligent conduct (one point), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of four activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level One offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has no existing good or bad record. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to a reprimand and 93.75 points towards his future record.

Matt Maguire, Brisbane Lions, has been charged with a Level Two engaging in rough conduct offence against Jude Bolton, Sydney Swans, during the first quarter of the Round Six match between the Brisbane Lions and the Sydney Swans, played at the SCG on Saturday May 1, 2010.

In summary, his five-year good record (subject to a VFL-confirmation), means that he can accept a one-match sanction with an early plea.

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 an existing five-year good record, which reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 168.75 points and a one-match sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 126.56 points and a one-match sanction.

Andrew Embley, West Coast, has been charged with a Level Three offence for bumping or making forceful contact from front-on against Rhys Palmer, Fremantle, during the first quarter of the Round Six match between West Coast and Fremantle, played at Subiaco on Sunday May 2, 2010.

In summary, his five-year good record means that he can reduce his four-game sanction to two matches, with an early plea.

The incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), medium contact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Three offence, drawing 400 demerit points and a four-match sanction. He has an existing five-year good record, which reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 300 demerit points and a three-match sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to 225 points and a two-match sanction.

Matt Priddis, West Coast, has been charged with a first offence for making negligent contact with umpire Luke Farmer during the third quarter of the Round Six match between West Coast and Fremantle, played at Subiaco on Sunday May 2, 2010.

In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for making negligent contact with an umpire is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.

Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, has been charged with a first offence for wrestling Adam Selwood, West Coast, during the second quarter of the Round Six match between Fremantle and West Coast, played at Subiaco on Sunday May 2, 2010.

In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for wrestling is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.

Adam Selwood, West Coast, has been charged with a first offence for wrestling Hayden Ballantyne, Fremantle, during the second quarter of the Round Six match between Fremantle and West Coast, played at Subiaco on Sunday May 2, 2010.

In summary, he can accept a $900 sanction with an early plea.

A first offence for wrestling is a $1200 sanction. An early plea reduces the penalty by 25 per cent to a $900 sanction.

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Other incidents assessed:

The match day report laid against Essendon’s David Hille for engaging in rough conduct against Hawthorn’s Clinton Young from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. The panel said that Young had taken a mark as Hille was coming in to contest the ball. Hille turned his body to protect himself when it was apparent that Young would get to the ball first. It was the view of the panel that Hille had slowed to minimise the contact and reduce the impact. It was their view that no charge should be laid as the force was below that required to constitute a reportable offence. No further action was taken.

Contact between Essendon’s Dustin Fletcher and Hawthorn’s Xavier Ellis from the second quarter of Saturday’s match was assessed. The panel said Ellis had disposed of the ball and was contacted by Fletcher with a bump. Fletcher made contact to the chest and shoulder area of Ellis, as shown by one of the camera angles that was provided to the panel. No contact was made to the head and no further action was taken.

Contact between Richmond’s Daniel Jackson and the Geelong Cats’ Steve Johnson from the first quarter of Sunday’s match was assessed. Due to the inconclusive nature of the video evidence, no further action was taken.

Contact between Richmond’s Dean Polo and the Geelong Cats Paul Chapman from the second quarter of Sunday’s match was assessed. It was the view of the panel that Polo vigorously pushed Chapman, but it was not considered to be a striking motion. No further action was taken.