Two indiscretions from last year's finals series could come back to haunt two important players, Jarryd Roughead and Paul Chapman, with carry-over points increasing the likelihood both will be suspended.
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Western Bulldogs forward Liam Jones is also facing a hefty suspension as the match review panel makes its appraisal of the first five matches of round eight.
Hawthorn's Roughead entered this season on the brink of suspension as a result of accepting 93.75 carry-over points for rough conduct in the preliminary final win against Geelong.
Chapman, in his first season at Essendon, missed that final for the Cats because of a one-match suspension that also saddled him with 68.75 carry-over points.
Both players will be scrutinised by the panel for incidents at the weekend - Chapman for two - and are sure to be joined by Jones, whose high bump forced the substitution of Melbourne's Dean Terlich was likened to Matthew Lloyd's brutal bump on Hawthorn's Brad Sewell in 2009.
Hawthorn's depth, already depleted by injury, will be tested if Roughead is outed for his bump on Sydney's Ben McGlynn on Friday night.
The players were competing for possession of the ball when Roughead sought to bump McGlynn. While Roughead did not leave the ground, the 21-centimetre height gap between them meant the Hawk made high contact.
A grading of high contact is assured because McGlynn then hit his head on the turf.
That Roughead did not run directly at the ball and shifted his gaze to McGlynn just before impact could attract a grading of reckless conduct rather than negligent. If that is the case, and with an impact classification of low, it would result in a penalty of 225 points, inflated to 318.75 due to his carry-over points. The three-match ban could be cut to two with a guilty plea.
Should his conduct be deemed negligent, it would trigger a two-match ban that could be cut to one.
Chapman is set to be scrutinised for two incidents in the win against the Brisbane Lions, both for raising his elbow.
First, he barged into Jack Redden as the Brisbane midfielder had his head over the ball. While the incident could be classed as either forceful front-on contact or striking - forceful front-on contact attracts more points - he could escape penalty due to lack of impact, partly because Redden braced for the collision and began moving backwards, and seemed little more than stunned by the incident.
Second, Chapman raised his forearm to stop Dayne Zorko from running forward from the edge of the centre square. The blow was seen by the presiding umpire, who paid a free kick against him for high contact, but did not report him.
If this incident attracted a classification of reckless conduct, low impact and high contact it would, in isolation, attract a one-match ban that could be cut to a reprimand. But Chapman would not be eligible for that because of his carry-over points.
If he is charged with negligent conduct and pleads guilty, the overall penalty would be 96.56 points, just within the threshold for a reprimand.
The heftiest penalty is likely to go to Jones for his bump on Terlich on Saturday night.
Jones shunned the option to tackle Terlich and instead made high contact with his left shoulder. The groggy Demon was immediately taken from the ground and assessed for concussion, after which he was substituted.
Lloyd said the incident was comparable with his bump on Sewell that led to him accepting a four-match suspension, in what was his last match before retirement. Sewell suffered a fractured jaw and eye socket in the incident.
"Everyone knows you shouldn't bump because there's just too much risk to it, but unfortunately it's an instinct game and you just can't help it at times," Lloyd said on The Sunday Footy Show. "You just get caught in the moment."
A classification of reckless conduct, medium impact and high contact, would result in a four-match ban that could be cut to three with a guilty plea.
If the impact grading was high - the medical report from Melbourne will influence that - the penalty would be five matches, or four with a guilty plea.
The good record of Fremantle's Paul Duffield should ensure he serves no more than a one-match ban for his high bump on Port Adelaide's Chad Wingard.
His bump is likely to be classed as reckless, low impact and high contact, which would trigger a two-match ban that would be cut to one because of his good record.
West Coast forward Mark LeCras will similarly benefit from his good behaviour over the past six years when he is assessed for his bump on GWS' Will Hoskin-Elliott, for which he was reported on Sunday afternoon.
In his first match back from injury after a month on the sidelines, LeCras is likely to attract a classification of reckless conduct - low impact and high contact - because he left the ground to delivery the bump just after his Giants opponent had cleared from centre half-back.
Like Duffield's expected penalty, it would be 225 points down to 168.75 due to good behaviour, then could be cut to 126.56 with a guilty plea, just over the one-match threshold.
The minor trip by Brisbane's Matt Maguire will also trigger a one-match ban if he is cited, because he has 93.75 carry-over points from a striking charge last year.
MATCH REVIEW PANEL - ROUND 8 PREDICTIONS
Franklin (Syd) forceful front-on contact to Birchall (Haw). No charge; insufficient impact.
Roughead (Haw) rough conduct to McGlynn (Syd). Reckless, low impact, high contact. 225 points, up due to carry-over points, to 318.75 (3 matches); 239.06 with guilty plea (2 matches).
Duffield (Fre) rough conduct to Wingard (PA). 225 points, down due to good record, to 168.75 (1 match); 126.56 with guilty plea (1 match).
Raines (BL) rough conduct to Goddard (Ess). No charge; legitimate attempt to gain possession.
Chapman (Ess) forceful front-on contact to Redden (BL). No charge; insufficient impact.
Chapman (Ess) striking Zorko (BL). 125 points, up due to carry-over, to 193.75 (1 match); 145.31 with guilty plea (1 match).
Reported: Maguire (BL) tripping Daniher (Ess). 80 points, up due to carry-over, to 173.75 (1 match); 130.31 with guilty plea (1 match).
Jones (WB) forceful front-on contact to Terlich (Melb). 400 points (4 matches); 300 points with guilty plea (3 matches).
Reported: LeCras (WC) rough conduct to Hoskin-Elliott (GWS). 225 points down due to good record to 168.75 (1 match); 126.56 with guilty plea (1 match).
