Prior to the tribunal handing out its verdict on Tuesday, AFL legal counsel Andrew Woods had suggested a four-game ban was an appropriate sanction, while Sam Tovey, representing the club and Houli, had asked for a two-game suspension. Despite their finding of intentional conduct, the jury settled on two games, citing Houli’s exemplary character and record as an explanation of the relatively light sanction.
Later on Tuesday, West Coast defender Will Schofield was unable to call upon a star cast of witnesses, but beat his charge of striking Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver in another contentious incident from last weekend’s action. Oliver was widely criticised for milking what appeared negligible contact from the Eagles star, though replays showed that he had indeed been struck to the jaw with a glancing blow before falling to the ground.
Criticism of the penalty applied in Houli’s case has been widespread, with former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes and Collingwood premiership midfielder Mick McGuane among a chorus of dissenters following the verdict. “Houli knocks a player out behind the play with an elbow,” tweeted Cornes. “Toby Greene misses a spoil by 2cm. Both get two weeks. Yep.”
Source: Bachar Houli accepts his four-game AFL ban on appeal – video | Sport | The Guardian
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