Essendon opted to contest the Lovett striking charge and two-match penalty on the basis that his actions were reckless rather than negligent.
However the tribunal disagreed with Essendon’s assertion and as Lovett did not plead guilty to the original charge, his penalty was extended to three weeks for striking West Coast’s Adam Hunter.
The good news for Essendon was that Dean Solomon’s report for charging was over-turned and he is now free to play against Port Adelaide this weekend.
""As an overall system the Essendon Football Club and to a large extent the football community is supportive of the current system but it is clearly throwing up some inequities that need to be addressed,"" Cato said.
""We were extremely disappointed with the outcome and I am not criticising the tribunal because their hands are tied to a large extent. But this verdict raises serious questions about the inequities and injustices that are thrown up by the current system.
""This was a minor strike by anyone’s definition - how can that deliver a three-week suspension and we have much more severe contact where players could be potentially be put in wheelchairs that attracts the same sanction.""
Cato said the Club had been pleased to have Solomon’s charge dismissed.
""We argued it did not meet the definition of a charge and they accepted the physical force used was not unreasonable or unnecessary. It was the type of contact you could expect in a game of Australian Rules football.""
