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St Kilda's Steven Baker faces 12-week ban for strikes on Steve Johnson
Al Paton From: Herald Sun June 28, 2010 5:33PM
St Kilda defender Steven Baker has been whacked with a 12-week suspension after the match review panel delivered its verdict on Friday night's stoush with Cat Steve Johnson.
Baker has been charged with three separate striking offences against Johnson and has also become the first player to be charged with interfering with an injured player.
Baker targetted Johnson's hand after he broke it early in the game.
The suspensions for each offence add up to 12 games. If Baker pleads guilty to each offence he can escape with a nine-week ban, which will see him available for the first week of the finals.
The match review panel's previous heaviest penalty was eight matches for Docker Dean Solomon breaking the jaw of Cat Cameron Ling.
Barry Hall was banned for seven matches for king hitting Brent Staker in 2008.
Johnson has been offered a four-match suspension for two separate striking offences against Baker.
The most serious was elbowing the Saint in the face in the second quarter on Friday night.
The hit forced Baker from the field and he finished the match with a badly swollen eye.
Geelong greats said at the weekend Baker deserved the elbow that Johnson threw back in the second quarter, causing blood to stream from his face.
Johnson's teammate Cameron Mooney has been offered a two-match suspension for striking Saint Jason Blake.
His poor record means he cannot reduce the penalty with a guilty plea.
The match review panel reviewed an incident in which Sam Fisher pushed Geelong midfielder Jimmy Bartel as he left the field with a feared broken arm but ruled there was no case to answer.
Al Paton From: Herald Sun June 28, 2010 5:33PM
St Kilda defender Steven Baker has been whacked with a 12-week suspension after the match review panel delivered its verdict on Friday night's stoush with Cat Steve Johnson.
Baker has been charged with three separate striking offences against Johnson and has also become the first player to be charged with interfering with an injured player.
Baker targetted Johnson's hand after he broke it early in the game.
The suspensions for each offence add up to 12 games. If Baker pleads guilty to each offence he can escape with a nine-week ban, which will see him available for the first week of the finals.
The match review panel's previous heaviest penalty was eight matches for Docker Dean Solomon breaking the jaw of Cat Cameron Ling.
Barry Hall was banned for seven matches for king hitting Brent Staker in 2008.
Johnson has been offered a four-match suspension for two separate striking offences against Baker.
The most serious was elbowing the Saint in the face in the second quarter on Friday night.
The hit forced Baker from the field and he finished the match with a badly swollen eye.
Geelong greats said at the weekend Baker deserved the elbow that Johnson threw back in the second quarter, causing blood to stream from his face.
Johnson's teammate Cameron Mooney has been offered a two-match suspension for striking Saint Jason Blake.
His poor record means he cannot reduce the penalty with a guilty plea.
The match review panel reviewed an incident in which Sam Fisher pushed Geelong midfielder Jimmy Bartel as he left the field with a feared broken arm but ruled there was no case to answer.
In summary, Baker facing 9-12 weeks and Stevie J looking at a month.
Edited by Sean, 28 June 2010 - 06:01 PM.
