HAWTHORN Premiership pair Brian Lake and Cyril Rioli face delayed starts to the 2014 season after being hit with bans by the Match Review Panel from Saturday’s Grand Final.
Norm Smith Medal winner Lake, can accept a three-match ban for striking while Cyril Rioli can accept a one-match sanction.
Lake collided with Fremantle small forward Michael Walters in the third quarter of the Grand Final as he marked on the lead. The Hawks defender came flashing across and struck him with him shoulder/arm.
The incident was originally graded for a two-match ban, but under the rules for the Grand Final in which penalties are doubled; Lake’s suspension is four weeks down to three with an early plea.
Rioli has been charged with rough conduct against Fremantle midfielder Michael Barlow, an incident which also occurred in the third term.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report supplied by Fremantle Football Club, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and body contact (one point).
That results in a classification of a Level One offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction.
As the incident occurred in the Grand Final, the penalty is doubled to 250 demerit points and a two-match ban than can be reduced to one with an early plea.
The AFL doubles sanctions in the Grand Final as it is a showcase game.