Melbourne forward Tom Bugg has copped a six-game AFL suspension for an ugly hit on Sydney’s Callum Mills which “will follow him for the rest of his career”.
Bugg pleaded guilty to the charge of intentional conduct with high impact to the head after being referred directly to the tribunal for knocking out Mills in Friday night’s game at the MCG.
The 24-year-old Bugg did not give evidence at Tuesday night’s hearing but spoke briefly afterwards saying he fully accepted his sanction.
Bugg’s representative Iain Findlay argued a five-game suspension would be appropriate, describing Bugg as “severely embarrassed”.
“He accepts the ruling and the penalty, and he accepts that he will be judged after tonight on what happened in this incident,” Findlay said.
“It will follow him for the rest of his career unfortunately but that’s the way football is.”
Tribunal jury members Wayne Henwood, Paul Williams and David Pittman settled on a six-game ban after a nine-minute deliberation.
It is the longest suspension handed down since the six-game ban given to Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas for striking West Coast’s Andrew Gaff in round nine last season.
Bugg will be ineligible to play again until round 22, although it’s possible he has played his last game for the season given his marginal spot in the Demons’ best 22.
“I’m standing here tonight very embarrassed with my actions,” Bugg told reporters after the hearing.
“I accept full responsibility for my actions.
“I’m looking forward to just working over the next six weeks and earning back respect from my club, my players and everyone in the wider community.”
Bugg called Mills to apologise for the incident and said the Swans defender accepted his apology.
“I’m very close with (Demons teammate) Angus Brayshaw and he’s been through concussions so I see how it affects the family,” Bugg said.
“My call to Callum was very genuine in (wanting) to see if he was OK and his family was travelling OK.”
Findlay said Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had also called Sydney counterpart John Longmire to apologise on behalf of the club.
AFL legal counsel Nick Pane QC had argued that a six-game ban, inclusive of a one-week discount for Bugg’s guilty plea, would be appropriate.
While the jury was not obliged to apply a discount, AFL tribunal chair David Jones said there would need to be “very good reason” not to.
Mills played no further part in the game after Bugg caught him with a nasty left hook to the chin, well off the ball, in the opening minutes.
The incident was widely condemned, with Swans forward Tom Papley describing it as a “dog act”.
Mark
Guest
Wrong
Paul D
Roar Guru
You're looking at something different to me. I tried Waleed, really I did
Cat
Roar Guru
I wouldn't worry too much about what Anon says, I doubt he ever watches or attends any footy.
Aransan
Guest
It seems you were stuck in moderation for a few hours on this one. Losing the plot are we?
anon
Roar Pro
http://imgur.com/a/BC7DL He was swinging his arm. Look at the picture. He would have swung his fist into the Carlton player's arm. Even the explanation that he wanted to punch him in the chest doesn't hold up.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Lamb's chest. He missed.
anon
Roar Pro
Roar Guru Paul D said | July 6th 2017 @ 1:37pm | ! Report Flailed back with his arm and struck him. His head is being pulled round by the force of his arm swinging – he didn’t look back and then hit him. Houli turns his head to see the Carlton player in his peripheral vision, then turns further as he is delivering the punch in order to identify the intended point of impact. So what was Houli swinging his clenched fist at if not the Carlton player? I don't think the non-insane automatism defence would hold up at the AFL tribunal.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Flailed back with his arm and struck him. His head is being pulled round by the force of his arm swinging - he didn't look back and then hit him. Even at the moment he hits him he's still looking directly out towards where the footage was shot from. Not at Lamb And I'm not looking to excuse Houli's behaviour, but his was not as bad as Bugg's, and anyone saying otherwise is not being objective or unbiased.
anon
Roar Pro
Please dig up your grainy crappy video close-up that is apparently more reliable than the word of an AFL umpire standing 35m away with an unimpeded view who is paid to watch football very closely with an eye for detail. A lot of AFL umpires can't make an objective, unbiased decision 5m away from the ball let alone 35m away. Houli could feel the Carlton player grabbing. He could see the Carlton player peripherally. So there’s no debate that he knew the Carlton player was directly behind him. As he’s punching the Carlton player in the head he’s looking directly at the Carlton player. http://imgur.com/a/BC7DL It was as intentional as it gets.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Please dig up your grainy crappy video close-up that is apparently more reliable than the word of an AFL umpire standing 35m away with an unimpeded view who is paid to watch football very closely with an eye for detail. I would love to see it
anon
Roar Pro
I'll dig up the evidence that shows Houli looking at the Carlton as he delivers the brutal, vicious assault. He's looking at about. 45 degree angle. If he lacks peripheral vision to see the Carlton player then he's finished as a footy player.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Blatant lie. Unless he's got eyes in the side of his head he wasn't looking at Lamb at all.
Aransan
Guest
That is your interpretation, you have decided what was going through Houli's mind in the split second leading up to the incident when I doubt whether Houli himself knew exactly why he did what he did. No doubt you have convinced yourself of your interpretation but I believe it is because it suits a fringe political agenda.
Slane
Guest
No it doesn't.
anon
Roar Pro
What will you do — boo him every time he goes near the ball in future games and hope similarly minded people join in? I certainly will be booing him -- and giving him some helpful advice too if I'm sitting close enough to the fence for him to hear me. Booing acts as a policing or correcting mechanism when more traditional avenues don't work to modify someone's behaviour.
anon
Roar Pro
The reporting umpire, who was 35 metre away with an unimpeded view, gave evidence that Houli was NOT looking at Lamb when he hit him Video evidence is more reliable than that of an umpire 35m away. The video clearly shows Houli looking at the Carlton player as he hits him.
Maggie
Guest
Houli's strike was graded 'intentional' because Houli himself said he intended to hit Lamb between the elbow and shoulder to dislodge Lamb's (illegal) hold which was impeding Houli's run as he was attempting to be in position to receive the ball. Technically that is not allowed (although it happens all the time because umpires frequently don't penalise the player holding on). That doesn't mean the MRP or the tribunal found that Houli intentionally hit Lamb in the head as you allege. The reporting umpire, who was 35 metre away with an unimpeded view, gave evidence that Houli was NOT looking at Lamb when he hit him, and in the view of the umpire the strike should be graded as careless. That grading was not accepted for the reasons above. I agree with Aransan that the best description would have been the now-discontinued grading of reckless. Bugg's strike was an intentional hit to Mills' head off the ball. It was a far worse offence than that of Houli.
Aransan
Guest
I don't believe you are judging this impartially, for whatever reason you have taken a set against Houli and are not prepared to accept that he has received a just punishment. What will you do -- boo him every time he goes near the ball in future games and hope similarly minded people join in?
anon
Roar Pro
If you punched someone while making a low-percentage attempt at punching the ball -- that would be reckless. What Houli did was intentional. He clenched his fist and threw it as hard as he could at the Carlton player's head and succeeded in knocking him out cold. He aimed for his head, turned around to make sure it would land. If what Houli did wasn't intentional, then it's a joke that he gets four weeks for something accidental. Maybe one week.
Aransan
Guest
Houli's "punch" was more in the nature of a backhander and I would regard as being reckless rather than intentional but the outcome was severe for Lamb. There is a big difference in the histories of Houli and Bugg, both received appropriate sentences in the end. It is important that both accepted their punishments and we should allow both to move on.