Conca cops three weeks
02/20/2012 04:20:08 AM
Richmond youngster Reece Conca has been cited for an off-the-ball bump that left North Melbourne's Leigh Adams dazed on Friday night.
Midway through the first half of the opening NAB Cup match of 2012 the Kangaroos were pushing forward from their half-back line when Conca clashed heavily with Adams at least 40m away from the play.
A stretcher was brought out for him but after receiving treatment for several minutes Adams eventually walked from the field, with the Kangaroos then subbing him out of the match and not playing him later in the night against Hawthorn.
Despite an off-season change to the rules surrounding incidents that occur behind the play, Conca's rough conduct charge was still only classified as reckless, but both the impact and contact were classed as high.
That means he will be sidelined for four matches if he unsuccessfully contests the charge but with an early guilty plea he can reduce his ban by a week.
Adams' team-mate Lindsay Thomas was also cited from the game at Etihad Stadium, for striking Conca in retaliation for the collision but he can escape a suspension with an early guilty plea to result in 60 carryover points.
And Fremantle's Josh Mellington and Essendon's Leroy Jetta can both accept $900 fines for wrestling each other at Patersons Stadium on Sunday night.