Gold Coast Faces $10,000 Fine from AFL Over Umpire Contact

Gold Coast is likely to face a $10,000 fine from the AFL if player Ben Jepson accepts a charge related to careless contact with an umpire. This potential penalty follows a previous sanction of $20,000 imposed on the club in June for similar offenses.

The AFL has established a precedent by fining Essendon $10,000 for its sixth offense of umpire contact this season, as part of a crackdown on such incidents. The league introduced club-imposed sanctions when five or more incidents occur in a season.

In a separate incident, St Kilda's Dan Butler received a one-week suspension for a high hit on Mac Andrew during a recent match. Butler's future with the team is uncertain as he is out of contract at the end of the season, having scored only six goals in ten games. Additionally, two other players, Hugh Boxshall and Tobie Travaglia, received fines for staging, with Boxshall facing a $3125 penalty for a second offense.