Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Sydney could go to the AFL tribunal after Lewis Melican was hit with a three-game ban for striking GWS opponent Toby Bedford.
While the defender avoided a direct referral for catching Bedford across the face with a swinging arm, the Swans will weigh up their options ahead of the Tuesday deadline.
Sunday’s second-quarter incident at the SCG was graded as careless conduct, high contact and severe impact.
Bedford passed a concussion assessment, but was sent from the field under the blood rule for a cut to his right cheek.
He was later substituted out at halftime with blurred vision due to swelling around his eye.
Also in Monday’s match review findings, Hawthorn cult figure Nick Watson became the third player fined this season for an obscene hand gesture after flipping the bird to the Richmond cheer squad.
Sunday’s win over the Tigers was doubly expensive for Watson – he was among 16 players from the game fined for melee involvement.
Watson kicked three goals in Hawthorn’s 65-point win over Richmond, but was caught giving the middle finger to Tigers fans in footage filmed in the crowd and shared on social media.
That earned him a $1000 fine, plus he can accept a $1875 penalty for engaging in a melee.
Geelong superstar Bailey Smith (twice) and West Coast young gun Harley Reid have also been fined over similar gestures towards opposition fans this season.
Smith gave a double-barrelled salute to Adelaide supporters in round five, costing him $1000, and was hit with a $1875 fine for the second offence aimed at Hawthorn fans a week later.
Reid was fined $1000 over his interaction with Brisbane Lions fans in March.
Tempers flared in the second term on Sunday when Hawthorn captain James Sicily caught Maurice Rioli holding the ball and threw the Tiger to the ground.
Tim Taranto flew the flag for Rioli – gifting Sicily a 50m penalty and goal by shoving him over – while most players were involved in the ensuing melee.
Sicily and Rioli can take $1000 fines for instigating the melee, while Watson was among 11 other players penalised for their involvement.
Watson’s melee fine is steeper because it’s his second offence. Another three players were fined for a melee in the last quarter.
