Essendon's Adam McPhee has been suspended for one match after contesting a striking charge at the AFL Tribunal tonight.
It was a reasonable result for McPhee whose contact with Fremantle's Scott Thornton was intially going to cost him three matches.
McPhee was charged with a Level Three offence for striking Thornton during the first quarter of the Round Two match between Essendon and Fremantle, played at Etihad Stadium.
The incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), medium impact (two points) and body contact (one point). This constituted a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Three offence, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-game sanction.
McPhee had a total of two-matches suspended within the last three years, increasing the penalty by 20 per cent to 270 points. He also had 37.50 points carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 307.50 points and a three-game sanction.
Essendon argued McPhee's action did not constitute a strike. While the tribunal disagreed with this, they did agree his action was reckless rather than intentional and this reduced his points tally to a level that constituted a one-match suspensiuon.
Meanwhile, Angus Monfries has accepted a sanction for making negligent contact with an umpire.
