O’hAiplin accepts AFL ban, may be sacked

Setanta O’hAilpin won’t play AFL football for at least a month, with a decision on his possible sacking from Carlton expected by the end of the week.

Collingwood’s Nick Maxwell also faces a bad start to his captaincy after the AFL match review panel hit the two players with suspensions.

Less than two hours after the panel announced their findings, O’hAilpin quickly accepted his combined four-match ban for punching and kicking team-mate Cameron Cloke.

Maxwell received a four-match ban for rough play after an incident that left West Coast youngster Patrick McGinnity with a broken jaw.

Maxwell’s poor record means that even if he takes an early plea, he will be sidelined for three games.

Collingwood will decide by 11am on Tuesday whether to take Maxwell’s case to the tribunal.

The league originally stated that O’hAilpin must serve his penalty during the regular season.

But the AFL clarified early on Monday evening that the Irishman, like Maxwell, can count NAB Cup matches in their suspensions.

“The AFL wishes to advise, upon further examination, it has determined that … O’hAilpin may serve part or all of his match review penalty while Carlton remains in competition for the NAB Cup,” the league said in a statement.

The Blues also suspended O’hAilpin soon after Friday’s extraordinary incident, when he punched Cloke to the ground and then kicked him during an internal trial match at Princes Park.

“O’hAilpin’s indefinite suspension imposed by the Club last Friday remains in place and this is a matter for discussion between O’hAilpin and Carlton, including the player leadership group,” the Blues said in a statement.

“These discussions will take place this week and a decision on this club suspension is expected to be known by Friday.”

Carlton have banned O’hAilpin from club activities during his suspension and he must train with VFL affiliates the Northern Bullants.

O’hAilpin, who has apologised for the incident, is also undergoing an anger management course.

The match review panel charged O’hAilpin with a level-four striking offence and a level-two kicking offence.

A day after O’hAilpin’s brain snap, Maxwell laid a solid bump on McGinnity during the NAB Cup opener against the Eagles at Subiaco.

Maxwell had 82.81 carryover points from a previous offence in the last year and that took his penalty from three to four games.

It will reduce to three matches if he accepts the early plea.

McGinnity will be out of action for several weeks because of the injury.

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