Bugg faces ban of up to six weeks

MELBOURNE forward Tomas Bugg has been referred directly to the AFL tribunal for his ugly hit on Sydney’s Callum Mills.

Bugg faces a likely five or sixgame suspension at tonight’s hearing after knocking out Mills with a left hook to the chin.

A discount for an early guilty plea is not available to the 24year-old after the match review panel classified the incident as intentional conduct with high impact to the head.

The decision will come as little surprise to Bugg, who expressed remorse after punching Mills well off the ball early in the first term of Friday night’s clash at the MCG.

Mills was forced from the field for the rest of the match as Sydney posted a big win.

Fremantle forward Cam McCarthy (rough conduct) and St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster (unreasonable contact) have been offered two-game suspensions for incidents in Sunday’s clash in Perth.