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Double blow for Dockers’ midfield

Star Fremantle midfielder Nathan Fyfe is out of contention for the Brownlow Medal and will miss Friday’s grand final rematch against Hawthorn after accepting a two-match AFL suspension.

Fyfe was among early season favourites for the Brownlow but he is now ineligible due to his ban after falling foul of the AFL’s crackdown on head-high contact.

He was charged with rough conduct for his high contact on Gold Coast’s Michael Rischitelli during Saturday’s match in Perth.

Fyfe bumped Rischitelli, resulting in an accidental clash of heads and both players were forced from the field with gashes.

The Match Review Panel deemed Fyfe responsible because he chose to bump instead of tackle.

The two-game ban means Fyfe will also miss Sunday week’s home clash with Essendon, while Fremantle defender Zack Dawson will miss the Hawthorn match after copping a one-match suspension for tripping Brandon Matera.

In a further blow to the Dockers’ midfield, Michael Barlow has been ruled out for between four and six weeks with a knee injury.

Barlow has sprained a ligament in his left knee.

Meanwhile, Geelong onballer Taylor Hunt will miss one match through suspension after entering an early guilty plea for his contact to the head of Brisbane onballer Daniel Rich.

Carlton key position player Jarrad Waite accepted a reprimand for the rare charge of staging, while Richmond small forward Jake King received a misconduct fine of $900 for his role in the same incident.

King kicked out and caught Waite in the chest during last Thursday night’s match at the MCG, but Waite reacted as though he had been kicked in the mouth.

Adelaide’s Richard Douglas accepted a $900 fine for negligent umpire contact, Greater Western Sydney co-captain Callan Ward copped a $1950 fine for reckless umpire contact, and Sydney’s Tom Derickx accepted a reprimand for rough conduct against Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury.

The early pleas mean the AFL tribunal will not sit on Tuesday.

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