Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
WHAT THEY SAID AT LACHIE NEALE’S AFL TRIBUNAL HEARING:-
* “I didn’t feel like I was striking him at all. It was more a bump or body-check.” Lachie Neale on his action.
* “I was indicating that Jack might have taken a bit of a dive to get a free kick.” Neale on his gesturing to Jack Ginnivan after the incident.
* “This is a very clear strike. He swings that left arm back. It’s a forceful arm … that swings straight into his opponent.” AFL counsel Andrew Woods KC.
* “The AFL’s position is you simply put the grand final out of your mind and treat this as though you’re assessing it in round one. It should not be relevant to the determination.” Woods again.
* “Whilst first-flush looking at this vision it does look like it is a punch to the guts, a careful and close analysis of the vision, and consideration of what Lachie Neale says, reaches the conclusion that it is not.” Neale’s counsel, Adrian Anderson.
* “You’re entitled to a lapse. If you have had 15 years being one of the best and fairest players to have ever played this game, then you’re entitled to some credit.” Anderson again.
* “When played at normal speed it appears clear to us that this was, to use the common vernacular, a strike to the guts … we find that this is what Neale intended.” Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson KC.
* “We have listened carefully to Mr Neale’s evidence but we find it was inconsistent in key respects with what we saw on the video and to that extent we do not accept it.” Gleeson.
* “Being of Neale’s outstanding record does not render a one-match suspension for that act inappropriate or unreasonable.” Gleeson again.
THE EXCEPTIONAL AND COMPELLING CLAUSE:-
* “Players will not automatically receive a reduced sanction for a good record. However, if a classifiable offence is contested or referred to the tribunal, a player with an exemplary record may argue that their good record constitutes exceptional and compelling circumstances”.
THE GROUNDS FOR AN AFL APPEALS BOARD HEARING:-
* Error of law. An error of law that has a material impact on the tribunal decision.
* Unreasonable decision. The decision was so unreasonable, no tribunal acting reasonably could have come it having regard to the evidence.
* Manifestly excessive or inadequate classification: The grading of the offence was manifestly excessive or inadequate.
* Manifestly excessive or inadequate sanction: The sanction or suspension imposed was manifestly excessive or inadequate.
