Hawks skipper to face tribunal over pinching

HAWTHORN captain Ben Stratton will face the AFL Tribunal tonight accused of pinching Essendon’s Orazio Fantasia up to eight times.

Match review officer Michael Christian said yesterday he had considered fining Stratton $1500 for each pinch.

But ultimately he handed it over to the tribunal so Stratton could explain the repeat nature of his behaviour.

Stratton also faces a onematch suspension for stomping, as the Hawks prepare to play Sydney at the SCG on Friday night. The tribunal charge has allowed the AFL to make a strong stand on Stratton’s behaviour against Essendon, classifying his aggravating methods as unacceptable and unsportsmanlike.

The match review staff examined the game from all camera angles. They found Stratton pinched Orazio as many as eight times.

“Under the guidelines, pinching is a fixed financial sanction,” Christian said.

“But after much consideration, given the number (of pinches) and multiple times we had evidence of pinching, it was decided the most appropriate action was to charge Ben under the serious misconduct provisions, which means a direct referral to the tribunal.

“It’s not viewed upon very well at all. It’s not something we like to see in the game.”

Stratton could face a fine of more than $5000 for the pinching barrage that left Fantasia’s left arm badly bruised in Essendon’s 19-point win last Friday night.

Christian said yesterday the Stratton case was the first clear instance of pinching he had seen in two years.

He said “there was no clear evidence” of Stratton pinching Brisbane Lions livewire Charlie Cameron three weeks ago, despite claims the Hawk used similar tactics against him.

But it’s the stomping charge that is likely to cost Stratton at least one match on the sidelines.

Stratton used his left foot to stomp on Shaun McKernan’s right foot, angering the Essendon forward, who remonstrated with the defender.

“Under the guidelines, it (stomping) is an automatic referral straight to the tribunal,” Christian said.

North Melbourne’s Ben Brown is free to take on Collingwood on Saturday week.

Brown was cleared of elbowing Giant Matt Buntine on Sunday because of insufficient force.

Buntine played on and was not hurt.

Christian said Brown’s elbow on Buntine was not forceful enough to warrant a sanction.

“He raised his arm, his forearm hit the ball and then slid up off the ball and made high contact with Matt Buntine,” Christian said.

“But in terms of the impact, it was insufficient.”