Essendon’s McKenna given three-week suspension for biting Dickson
Dashing Essendon defender Conor McKenna has been suspended for three weeks for biting Western Bulldogs forward Tory Dickson during an on-field scuffle.
McKenna was charged with serious misconduct by match review officer Michael Christian on Monday and referred directly to the tribunal.
The Irishman pleaded guilty at a hearing this evening.
McKenna was chased down and tackled by Dickson during second quarter of the Round 3 match at Docklands on Sunday.
The pair began to wrestle on the ground and McKenna could be seen putting his face into Dickson's neck, before he was dragged away by Bulldog Bailey Dale.
Dickson told an AFL integrity officer in a statement that he felt a quick nip on his neck, which he believed to be a bite, but it was minor.
He went to the bench straight after the incident due to fatigue and not the bite, and he did not require treatment.
Photos used as evidence at the hearing showed a red mark on Dickson's neck but no penetration to the skin or blood.
Jeff Gleeson QC, who was acting for the AFL, argued that the fact McKenna pleaded guilty without clear footage of the incident should go in his favour.
But he said the act was not in the spirit of the game, and it was not particularly provoked.
[contf]
[contfnew]
ABC .net
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]
