Whelan accepts, Pratt contests
22/04/2008 1:05 PM
Melbourne defender Matthew Whelan has accepted a one-match suspension from the match review panel, while Kangaroo Daniel Pratt will contest his rough conduct charge on Tuesday night.
Whelan was reported for striking Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola on Sunday at the MCG and the offence - combined with the Demon's existing bad record - was originally worth 247.50 demerit points and a two-match ban.
However, Whelan lodged an early guilty plea on Tuesday morning which reduced the tally to 185.63 and a one-week sanction.
The 28-year-old will now sit out Melbourne's Round 6 clash with the Brisbane Lions on Sunday at the Gabba.
Pratt's offence against Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser on Saturday night was given a level-two grading and, after being diluted by his five-year good behaviour record, incurred a total of 168.75 demerit points and a one-week penalty.
The North Melbourne backman didn't have much to lose from contesting the charge as the 25 percent discount that an early plea brings would have only reduced his total to 126.56 - 26.57 points from being under the 100-point, one-week suspension threshold.
Meanwhile, Whelan wasn't the only one to accept a sanction handed down by the match review panel with St Kilda midfielder Leigh Montagna and Essendon speedster Andrew Lovett both accepting $900 fines for wrestling each other during Friday night's encounter at Telstra Dome.
West Coast veteran Chad Fletcher also accepted a $1950 fine for making negligent contact with umpire Hayden Ryan during the Eagles' 24-point loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday at Subiaco.