STOKES COPS FOUR WEEK SUSPENSION; MILBURN A CHANCE TO RETURN
Ben Jensen 6 March 2007

By Ben Jensen GEELONG's MATTHEW STOKES has been suspended for four matches by the AFL Tribunal after failing in his quest to have the charge downgraded. Had Stokes pleaded guilty he would only have been suspended by three matches.

Should Geelong win this Friday night against Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome, Stokes will miss Rounds one and two of the AFL Premiership Season. However should the Lions knock off the Cats, Stokes will sit out the first three rounds and remain ineligible until the round four clash with Hawthorn in Launceston.

MEANWHILE versatile Darren Milburn is a chance to return for the semi final. Milburn missed the sodden affair in Darwin due to a cut forehead courtesy of Richmond's Andrew Krakouer in week one, but has been named as 'available' by the club today.

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THE CHARGE ON STOKES

"Matthew Stokes, Geelong, has been charged with bumping or making forceful contact from front on against Domenic Cassisi, Port Adelaide, during the third quarter of the Round Two NAB Cup match against Port Adelaide, played at TIO Stadium on Saturday March 3, 2007.

In summary, with the much stricter sanctions in place in 2007 for bumping / forceful contact, he can accept a three-match sanction with an early plea.

The incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), medium impact (two points) and high contact (two points). This is a total of six activation points, which relates to a Level Three offence, drawing 400 demerit points and a four-match sanction. He has no applicable record. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 300 points and a three-match sanction."

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