Star Hawthorn defender Josh Gibson will walk a disciplinary tightrope for the remainder of the AFL season after being fined $1500 for striking Carlton’s Blaine Boekhorst.
It was the second time Gibson had been charged by the match review panel and fined this year, with a third charge in the same season to result in an automatic one-match suspension.
Gibson is a key figure in the Hawks’ chase for a third-straight premiership.
Promising Carlton youngster Nick Holman will miss Saturday night’s AFL clash against North Melbourne after accepting a one-match ban for striking.
Holman was charged by the MRP with striking Hawthorn forward Luke Breust and has accepted an early guilty plea.
The AFL Tribunal will not be required to sit on Tuesday after all six players charged during round 17 submitted guilty pleas.
Holman was the only one to be suspended.
The other five – including Gibson, North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow and Sydney speedster Lewis Jetta – were fined.
Swallow and Jetta are both in a similar situation to Gibson having being fined for the second time this year.
They were each docked $1500 for rough conduct offences.
Don Freo
Guest
This freedom for Hawthorn players to continue with unfettered behind the play violence has a direct correlation to Brad Sewell's role on the MRP.