The loss of the Cats' star would be huge for Chris Scott's team, with the silky-skilled onballer averaging 29 possessions and a goal over the opening nine rounds. He's one of the more highly-fancied chances in Brownlow Medal betting.
Handed a two-match ban for making contact with the head of Fremantle's Ryan Crowley, Johnson's two-match sanction would be reduced to one with an early plea.
The Match Review Panel's findings were as follows:
Steve Johnson, Geelong, has been charged with a Level One misconduct offence (125 demerit points, one-match sanction) for misconduct in that he made contact with his head to Ryan Crowley, Fremantle, during the second quarter of the round nine match between Geelong and Fremantle, played at Patersons Stadium on Saturday May 17, 2014.
In summary, due to his previous poor record and carry-over demerit points from a previous offence, his one-match sanction must remain at one-match sanction, even with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the Fremantle Football Club, the incident was assessed as reckless conduct (two points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of five activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Two Offence, drawing 125 demerit points and a one-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of five matches suspended within the last two years, increasing the penalty by 30 per cent to 162.50 points and a one-match sanction. He also has 71.78 demerit points carried over within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 234.28 points and a two-match sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 175.31 demerit points and a one-match sanction.
