McMeniman accepts his punishment

 

The SANZAR Duty Judicial Officer Nicholas Davidson has accepted a guilty plea from McMeniman for contravening Law 10.4 (a) Punching or Striking, after he was cited. 

 

McMeniman has been suspended from all forms of the game for one week up to and including 12 July 2014. 

 

The incident occurred in the 29th minute of the match at nib Stadium in Perth on Saturday.

 

The video footage demonstrates that McMeniman dropped his knee into the side of Ben Lucas, with no great force, and while initially contesting a deliberate strike, Davidson found that this does not allow for a defence as such.

 

Lucas’ condition was not finally assessed according to the medical report available but the player directly indicated to McMeniman that no serious injury had been sustained.

 

On the basis that this was a deliberate application of the knee, it was indicated to the player that a one-week suspension would be imposed if the breach was admitted and he accepted that penalty. 

 

While the entry point for striking with the knee is three weeks, Davidson considered that this was no more serious than another lower end striking sanction which carries a two-week entry point.

 

Together, with McMeniman’s outstanding disciplinary record over nine years, this warranted a discount to one week.

 

The player was suspended up to and including Saturday July 12.