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AFL football boss Steve Hocking has appealed the decision by the tribunal to fine rather than suspend Carlton duo Ed and Charlie Curnow for making contact with an umpire.
The Curnow brothers had been charged with making deliberate contact with an umpire in separate incidents in Saturday’s win over Essendon, only for the tribunal to downgrade the charges to careless contact, resulting in $1000 fines.
The appeals will be held at 3pm AEST on Thursday.
The Curnow findings were in stark contrast to the one-week ban handed to Geelong forward Tom Hawkins the previous week for a similar incident.
Gold Coast co-captain Steven May also had a similar charge downgraded to careless contact on Monday night, although the AFL chose not to appeal that finding.
Hawkins took a one-game ban in a plea bargain-style deal after he was threatened with a two-match suspension for touching an umpire during the Cats’ round-seven win over GWS.
The Curnow brothers made almost identical cases to the tribunal on Tuesday night.
Charlie touched umpire Matt Stevic and Ed made contact with umpire Nathan Williamson during the match against the Bombers.
In similar statements submitted into evidence, both umpires said they didn’t say anything at the time contact was made, neither felt threatened or had any issues with what had occurred.
“I’d just like to say that we both highly respect umpires and their position in the game as officiators and their importance to the game at all levels,” Ed Curnow said as he left the hearing.
“We both understand the tribunal’s decision and we respect the process involved.”
The Blues’ next match is against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
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