Thomas was handed a three-match ban for making contact with the Giants’ Jacob Townsend during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s match.
That penalty is now reduced to two matches.
The club determined the risk of challenging the Match Review Panel's charge was too great as an unsuccessful case would have resulted in a three week sanction for the 25-year-old.
The MRP’s finding:
Lindsay Thomas, North Melbourne, has been charged with a Level Three misconduct offence (250 demerit points, two-match sanction) for misconduct in that he headbutted Jacob Townsend.
In summary, due to his previous poor record, his two-match sanction must remain at two matches, even with an early plea.
Based on the video evidence available and a medical report from the GWS Giants Football Club, the incident was assessed as intentional conduct (three points), low impact (one point) and high contact (two points). This is a total of six activation points, resulting in a classification of a Level Three offence, drawing 250 demerit points and a two-match sanction. He has an existing bad record of 88.75 demerit points carried over from within the last 12 months, increasing the penalty to 338.75 points and a three-match sanction. An early plea reduces the sanction by 25 per cent to 254.06 points and a two-match sanction.
PRESS PLAY above to watch the incident | YouTube
