![Chris Dawes makes contact with Andrew Swallow during the round 23 match on Saturday. Photo: Fox Footy Chris Dawes makes contact with Andrew Swallow during the round 23 match on Saturday. Photo: Fox Footy](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/dd7f916c-4fcc-4960-ab1c-fa73d939bc3c.jpg/r0_0_728_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Chris Dawes is set to miss the first round of 2015 while Ben Rutten has preserved – narrowly – his record of lasting his entire 12-year career without suspension.
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Melbourne forward Dawes is the only player facing a ban after the match review panel's assessment of round 23, which included West Coast's Josh Kennedy having his match-day report thrown out and Sydney veteran Adam Goodes not beinginvestigated for staging.
The panel also issued of total of $32,800 in fines, mainly relating to the melee which occurred at the three-quarter-time break in Sunday's Western Bulldogs-GWS match.
Dawes has been charged over an incident in which he planted his elbow towards the chest of North Melbourne's Andrew Swallow. It has been deemed high contact because as Swallow's momentum took him forward Dawes' upper arm made contact with the Kangaroos captain's head.
The incident, also deemed reckless and low impact, could have been reduced to a reprimand had it not been for Dawes' 68.75 carry-over points accrued for striking Richmond's Alex Rance earlier this year.
Had Dawes been charged with rough conduct, rather than striking, he would have received a two-match suspension, rather than one.
The incident with Swallow was the first of a string of incidents involving the obviously frustrated Dawes that saw him either penalised or warned by presiding umpires. He escaped further penalty for a late bump on Jack Ziebell that attracted a downfield free-kick, while a possible strike to North full back Scott Thompson was deemed by the panel too minor to warrant punishment.
Now-retired Adelaide defender Rutten has been punished for using his forearm or elbow to deliver a blow to the jaw of St Kilda's Adam Schneider.
That Rutten was seemingly counteracting Schneider's attempt to shepherd him away from chasing his St Kilda teammate Cameron Shenton, rather than purely delivering a blow out of frustration, limited the conduct grading to reckless, rather than intentional. Behind-play strikes are customarily deemed intentional, unless there is a clear reason for the panel to downgrade.
Rutten's unblemished record in his preceding 228 matches ensured the 125-point penalty was reduced to 93.75, within the threshold for suspension, even without a guilty plea.
A classification of reckless conduct, low impact and high contact would trigger a 125-point penalty for Rutten that could be downgraded to 93.75 due to his good record.
West Coast spearhead Kennedy escaped punishment for an incident in which he floored Gold Coast's David Swallow.
The Eagles forward and the Suns midfielder were coming from opposite directions attempting to collect a loose high ball. After Swallow arrived first Kennedy threw out his right arm towards the ball and collected Swallow heavily with his inner arm, forcing Swallow's head to jerk back as if he had been coathangered.
The panel threw out the match-day report on the basis it did not considered Kennedy's conduct to be "a striking action".
"As Kennedy approached the Suns player, Swallow seeks to go to his left and Kennedy has his arms outstretched in a smother or tackling position, when high contact is made," the panel said in its report.
Collingwood's Heritier Lumumba and Carlton's Brock McLean were investigated but ultimately exonerated over possible rough-conduct incidents.
The panel saw no reason to mention Goodes for the incident in which he unsuccessfully sought a free-kick in the Swans' loss to Richmond. Goodes and the Tigers' Rance were competing for a loose high ball when Rance's left arm brushed Goodes' throat, prompting the Swans' veteran to throw his head back and fall to the ground. Presiding umpire Troy Pannell, who was about 10 metres from the incident and was facing Goodes, declined to pay a free-kick.
The panel has the power to issue a reprimand for staging for anyone who either feigns or exaggerates contact to influence an umpire's decision, but typically only considers laying the misconduct charge in relation to players feigning contact, rather than those who exaggerate.
Twenty-two players were fined for melee involvement. All bar one were given the option of a $900 fine, with the Bulldogs' Will Minson offered a $2100 fine because it was his second offence.
MATCH REVIEW PANEL - ROUND 23
Chris Dawes (Melb) striking Andrew Swallow (NM). Reckless, low impact, high contact. 125 points up due to carry-over to 193.75 (1 match); 145.31 with guilty plea (1 match).
Ben Rutten (Adel) striking Adam Schneider (StK). Reckless, low impact, high contact. 125 down due to good record and 93.75 (reprimand); 70.31 with guilty plea (reprimand).
First offence negligent umpire contact: Grant Birchall (Haw), Jordie McKenzie (Melb). $1200 fine; $900 with guilty plea.
First offence melee involvement: Rory Thompson (GC), Nic Naitanui (WC), Luke Shuey (WC), Daniel Giansiracusa (WB), Nathan Hrovat (WB), Jason Johannisen (WB), Tom Liberatore (WB), Jack Macrae (WB), Bob Murphy (WB), Liam Picken (WB), Koby Stevens (WB), Jake Stringer (WB), Tom Young (WB), Matt Buntine (GWS), Toby Greene (GWS), Will Hoskin-Elliott (GWS), Shane Mumford (GWS), Lachie Plowman (GWS), Dylan Shiel (GWS), Devon Smith (GWS), Nathan Wilson (GWS). $1200 fine; $900 with guilty plea.
Second offence melee involvement: Will Minson (WB). $2800 fine; $2100 with guilty plea.
First offence wrestling: Brad Crouch (Adel), Dylan Roberton (StK). $1200 fine; $900 with guilty plea.
Investigated but not charged:
Heritier Lumumba (Coll) rough conduct to Jordan Lewis (Haw)
Brock McLean (Carl) rough conduct to Brendon Goddard (Ess)
Chris Dawes (Melb) rough conduct to Jack Ziebell (NM)
Reported: Josh Kennedy (WC) striking David Swallow (GC)