Sicily escapes heavy penalty

JAMES Sicily’s knee to Joel Selwood’s head was not deemed forceful enough to warrant a lengthy suspension, according to the match review officer.

The Hawthorn defender, who copped a one-week ban, delivered a crude blow to the head of the Geelong skipper as they tangled in the fourth term on Easter Monday.

Selwood immediately remonstrated with Sicily and appeared to speak briefly with the umpires sitting next to the interchange when he went to the bench only minutes later.

The pair exchanged words on the final siren but shook hands. But the medical report said Selwood did not suffer an injury in the skirmish, saving Sicily a lengthy suspension.

Match review officer Michael Christian said Sicily clearly had other options instead of dropping his knee into Selwood’s head.

Christian felt given the capacity to cause serious injury Sicily’s charge could have been elevated to medium force. But because he did not drive his knee into Selwood’s head with force it was instead judged low impact and deliberate.

Hawthorn pair Daniel Howe and Kaiden Brand and Geelong’s James Parsons can accept fines for misdemeanours during Monday’s contest.

Brand also received a heavy knock to the ribs on Monday and appeared to vomit on the boundary line.