Craig was reported and yellow-carded at the 27-minute mark of the final quarter of the Dragons’ loss to Eaglehawk last Saturday for an incident in which central umpire Matthew Bourke tripped and fell exiting a ball-up.

Vision of the incident showed Craig’s right leg making contact with Bourke as the umpire ran backwards after throwing the ball up.

Craig – a Dragons’ premiership player last year – pleaded guilty to a report of “carelessly making contact with an umpire” and was suspended for three games.

Evidence was delayed as umpires advocate Peter Hilson sought to have the report upgraded to “intentionally making contact with an umpire”, but the amendment wasn’t allowed.

In his evidence, Craig admitted there was “obviously contact which left Matthew on the ground”, but that the leg movement that resulted in the contact with the umpire was a reaction to his foot being stood on by Eaglehawk’s ruckman.

Craig’s advocate, Peter Watson, described the incident as an “unfortunate collision that was the consequence of numbers around the ball” and that Craig had “pleaded guilty to a charge that, respectfully, no-one knew what to call” in relation to the deliberation around careless or intentional.

Umpire Bourke said the contact was “more significant than a normal clip on the heels” and that he “fell backwards, got up and made a report straight away.”

Bourke said the incident in which he fell followed a separate incident with Craig “10 seconds earlier” when he had “yelled at me” and that he “had to make a stand”.

Meanwhile, gun Strathfieldsaye forward Lachlan Sharp is clear to play this Saturday – and continue his charge towards 100 goals – after being found not guilty of “carelessly” striking Maryborough’s Ethan Crackel.

However, Eaglehawk will need a replacement reserves coach this weekend after Linton Jacobs pleaded guilty to a charge of using “abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene language towards an umpire” and was suspended for one game.