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RIOLI TO FACE HEAD-BUTTING CHARGE
Dean Rioli's rollercoaster season took another downward turn late this afternoon with news that he will face the AFL tribunal tomorrow night after being charged on video evidence for allegedly head-butting Jonathon Brown of Brisbane. In what shapes as a busy night for the tribunal, Essendon's Paul Barnard and James Hird will also front the tribunal on wrestling charges. Brisbane's Brad Scott and Justin Leppitsch will face wrestling charges while Brown and Alistair Lynch have been charged with striking Mark Johnston and Dustin Fletcher respectively.
Dean Rioli's rollercoaster season took another downward turn late this afternoon with news that he will face the AFL tribunal tomorrow night after being charged on video evidence for allegedly head-butting Jonathon Brown of Brisbane. In what shapes as a busy night for the tribunal, Essendon's Paul Barnard and James Hird will also front the tribunal on wrestling charges. Brad Scott and Justin Leppitsch also face wrestling charges while Brown and Alistair Lynch have been charged with striking Mark Johnston and Dustin Fletcher respectively.
Umpire Justin Schmitt laid the charge against Rioli for the incident that allegedly occurred in the first quarter of last weekend's fiery clash. Rioli has already been suspended this season - he spent three weeks on the sidelines after being found guilty of making contact with the face of Paul Williams during the history-making clash with the Swans at Stadium Australia. Rioli also had a delayed start to the season after returning home for personal reasons.
More recently former Collingwood coach Tony Shaw was critical of Rioli's approach to football. However the supremely talented Rioli had the critics eating their words in the past two weeks. He was best on ground against Richmond and was brilliant across half back in the first half of last Saturday night's game.
Chris Heffernan will also front the tribunal tomorrow night to face a striking charge. Heffernan was reported for allegedly striking Jamie Charman in the third quarter. The video scrutiny of the match is still to be completed.
The Essendon supporter responsible for throwing a bottle onto the field of play last Saturday night has apologised to both the Brisbane and Essendon football clubs. A remorseful James Marinelli phoned Brisbane to specifically apologise to Chris Johnson - the Brisbane player which the bottle struck. He then phoned Essendon chief executive Peter Jackson. ""He did the wrong thing and he realises that. At least he had the courage to admit what he had done and apologise,"" Jackson said.
