Fyfe fails in AFL tribunal appeal
Fremantle have failed in their second attempt to reduce Nat Fyfe’s two-week suspension for striking.
Fyfe struck Hawthorn midfielder Jordan Lewis in the opening minutes of the Dockers’ AFL win on Sunday night.
An AFL tribunal made short work of Fyfe’s appearance on Tuesday night, and the AFL Appeals Board took just seven minutes on Thursday night to throw out the appeal.
Counsel for Fyfe, Stuart Morris, brought the appeal on the basis that an error in law had been made, arguing tribunal chair Ross Howie directed the jury to find Fyfe guilty.
Fyfe attempted to clarify his guilty plea as one of “recklessly striking” rather than the more serious “intentionally striking”, however the panel, led by Peter O’Callaghan QC found there was no grounds for an appeal.
Fyfe will now be sidelined for their remaining regular-season games against Brisbane and Port Adelaide but will be available for their finals campaign.