AFL tribunal LIVE: AFL says Xerri’s blood swipe was a ‘deliberate act’, call for three-game ban

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Gleeson said Xerri was upset from being taunted, but this was no reason for his behaviour.

He praised Xerri for admitting his guilt and his “candid and remorseful” responses.

AFL Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson, KC, is delivering his verdict.

He says it was “disgraceful behaviour”.

Andrew Woods, SC, representing the AFL said the one-match bans for Nathan Buckley in 2002 and Jeremy Howe in 2012 weren’t applicable.

“Community standards have evolved since then, and the expectation of the way players should behave, but moreover, Buckley wiped the blood on the other player’s guernsey and Howe rubbed blood on the other player’s shorts,” Woods said.

“This conduct is a lot more severe because of the location of where the contact was made … all these things support a three-match sanction.”

Buckley wiped blood on the guernsey of Geelong opponent Cameron Ling, while Howe wiped blood on the shorts of Port Adelaide opponent Tom Jonas.

What should the penalty be, folks?

Graham, KC, said Nathan Buckley was given a one-match ban for wiping blood on Cameron Ling’s jumper in 2002.

He also refers to the Jeremy Howe incident of 2012 when the then Melbourne player wiped blood from a graze on his knee on to shorts of Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas. Howe pleaded guilty and was given a one-match ban.

Graham, KC, said Xerri had “no intent” to harm McGrath.

“He [McGrath] was not sent from the field, so his play was not interrupted. But, more importantly, the medical report, the form 31 that’s been filed by his club confirms that there was no further investigation required in respect of the matter, and no ongoing treatment required,” Graham said.

Woods, SC, said Xerri’s actions were a poor example for youngsters.

“It is a family-friendly game. It has dedicated spectators, from little kids to the elderly. And, at weekends, our ovals are full of kids playing footy, and they watch and love watching elite level of footy being played,” Woods, SC, said.
“This sort of conduct undermines the AFL’s proud position as a professional, elite and family-friendly competition, and it’s just a very bad look. Of course, the sanction needs to send a message, both specifically to Mr Xerri and also to the AFL, and other AFL players.”

“The AFL’s position is that this conduct comfortably meets the definition of serious misconduct. It’s more severe than just simple misconduct, and there are two types of misconduct,” Woods, SC, said on behalf of the AFL.

“This is a deliberate act. It’s something the player has chosen to do. He chose to wipe his hand on McGrath’s face, rather than say, wipe it on perhaps his own jersey, or even on McGrath’s jersey or something like that.”