Mooney's ban sticks, Shiels now out for two

GEELONG premiership forward Cameron Mooney will miss the club's clash with Fremantle after his appeal against a one-match ban proved unsuccessful at the AFL tribunal on Wednesday night.

Mooney was charged by the match review panel with a level one engaging in rough conduct offence against Hawthorn's Rick Ladson, but the Cats did not risk an extended suspension by challenging it.

Even though Mooney had been handed a 10 per cent increase on his demerit points because of an existing bad record, it wasn't enough to push the penalty to two weeks without an early plea.

Football manager Neil Balme said the club was very disappointed with the outcome, but that it was unlikely to take its appeal further.

"That's the way ... we find it a bit hard to know what realistic alternative Cameron had, but that's the game I guess," he said.

"I know it's a tough job the tribunal's got, but we are disappointed."

Mooney said in his evidence that he opted to bump Ladson as he was unable to tackle him.

"I saw Ladson grab the ball and I thought I'd lay a tackle … [but then] I tried to bump him off the ball, so he wouldn't get a clean possession," he said.

"I went in with a duty of care and not near the head.

"I thought he was going to kick it, so I thought I would be penalised for a late tackle.

"I just wanted to bump him off the ball."

It was also an unfruitful appearance for Hawks midfielder Liam Shiels, though his suspension was upgraded to two matches by the tribunal.

Shiels was charged with a level three striking offence against Cameron Ling after appearing to collect the Geelong captain high.

The incident was assessed as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, drawing 225 demerit points and a two-match sanction.

Hawthorn chose not to enter an early guilty plea which would have seen Shiels miss one match.

It was unsuccessfully argued that the 19-year-old's bump was reckless and not intentional.

Shiels said he was trying to put a block on for teammate Luke Hodge when he made contact with Ling.

"I was trying to get my body in between Hodgey and Ling. I was anticipating some contact with Ling," he said.

"Lingy dropped his shoulder and moved away … but I had no intention to strike him high, [although] it was a bit careless."

Earlier on Wednesday, Geelong full-back Matthew Scarlett and Hawthorn forward Michael Osborne accepted their one-match sanctions.

for me he shouldn't of been banned.

what did he do

Didn't you write this?

Mooney conducted Rick Ladson, and then he got a 1 match ban.

oohh yeah forgot that crap

This is bullshit, same as Scarletts ban, pathetic.

Bartel wrote:This is bullshit, same as Scarletts ban, pathetic.

yea that is bullshit

The tribunal need to harden up. Their acting like their in a mothers club.