Franklin hit with one-game AFL ban
Star Hawthorn forward Lance Franklin must win at the tribunal on Tuesday night if he's to get his AFL season going after a slow start.
Franklin was on Monday hit with a one-game ban for a high bump on Western Bulldog Jason Akermanis on Sunday, but cannot escape suspension through a guilty plea because of his bad disciplinary record.
The Brisbane Lions must also weigh up whether to fight charges at the tribunal, as ruckman Mitch Clark and midfielder Ashley McGrath were both suspended for two games for incidents in Saturday's game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
Franklin did not play in round one because he was suspended for a high bump on Richmond's Ben Cousins late last year.
Had the 2008 Coleman medallist not been suspended in round 21 last year, he could have pleaded guilty to engaging in rough conduct on Akermanis and been available to play Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday night.
Hawthorn effectively have nothing to lose by challenging at the tribunal, but Hawks football manager Mark Evans said the club had yet to decide.
Franklin's report capped a bad result as the big forward went goalless for only the third time since mid-2006 and Hawthorn's loss was their second in three games.
Franklin was even jeered by Hawthorn fans late in Sunday's game, but teammate Campbell Brown said the forward was working as hard as he could to fulfil lofty expectations.
"Without kicking those goals and the things that we like to see, I thought his performance was still pretty solid," Brown said.
"He's working really hard and while he's working hard I'm sure that his hands and his goals will end up coming."
Clark was charged with striking Port's Jackson Trengove and McGrath was charged with making unreasonable and unnecessary contact to the face of the Power's Cameron Cloke.
Both incidents drew 225 demerit points, but the Lions pair can reduce the penalties to one game by pleading guilty.
Brisbane coach Michael Voss, whose unbeaten side plays the Bulldogs at the Gabba on Saturday night, said the Lions would weigh up their options.
But Voss said the Lions had last week found it too great a risk to challenge Jared Brennan's two-game suspension, which had proven a good decision as Brennan was now available to play the Bulldogs after missing the win over Port.
Richmond young gun Dustin Martin can escape with a reprimand for making forceful front-on contact with Sydney's Josh Kennedy at the SCG on Saturday night.
Martin's contact drew 125 points, but he can plead guilty and be available to play Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday, when the Tigers will chase their first win of the season.
Four players were fined for round-three incidents.
North Melbourne's Andrew Swallow ($2400) and Sydney's Kieren Jack ($1200) were fined for making negligent contact with field umpires, Hawk Chance Bateman was fined $2400 for wrestling Bulldog Shaun Higgins and Fremantle goalsneak Hayden Ballantyne was fined $1200 for the unusual charge of pinching Geelong star Gary Ablett.
All can get discounts by pleading guilty.
The match review panel withdrew a report against West Coast's Ashley Hansen for striking North's Daniel Wells because the Eagle was trying to tackle.
But the Eagles have been asked by the AFL to explain why ruckmen Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox were talking to their ruck coach on a mobile phone at three-quarter time on Saturday.
The Eagles are likely to incur a large fine.
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