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AAP
Roger Vaughan, Shayne Hope and Steve Larkin

McGrath goes in to bat for Sicily after AFL suspension

Hawk James Sicily (2R) is facing a one-game ban for kicking during a scuffle with Essendon players. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

Essendon's medical report will be 'Exhibit A' for Hawthorn after the Hawks opted to take the kicking charge against captain James Sicily to the AFL tribunal.

The players' code was invoked on Monday morning when Essendon star Andrew McGrath said he barely felt the contact from Sicily in the opening minutes of Saturday's match at the MCG.

Sicily was offered a one-game ban for the incident, which happened after he gave away a free to opponent Matt Guelfi.

After Guelfi kicked the first goal of the game, Sicily scuffled with several Essendon players and his foot made contact with McGrath.

But the Bombers defender said it barely registered.

"After every incident our club doctor calls us to see if there are any medical ramifications or any soreness, my report to him was that there's nothing - I've got no bruise, no nothing," McGrath told SEN on Monday.

"Hopefully that stands up in the appeal, if there is one.

"It was pretty innocuous ... I didn't even really realise that he put his foot into the back of me, which suggests how severe the kick was. Not very at all.

"But they're stamping that out of the game and we'll see where that lands."

Disappointed Hawthorn players leave the field.
James Sicily leads the Hawks off the MCG after their loss to the Bombers. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)

The Hawks' captain, who was last year banned for three games for rough conduct, has been charged with kicking McGrath with intentional conduct, medium impact and body contact.

His tribunal hearing will take place on Tuesday night.

Essendon's Mason Redman accepted his one-match penalty after being charged with striking Hawk Jai Newcombe in an off-the-ball incident.

The contact was deemed as intentional, high contact with low impact.

Gold Coast's Malcolm Rosas Jr has been cited for headbutting Adelaide's Max Michalanney in the Suns' six-point win on Saturday night.

Rosas can accept a one-match suspension, with his contact ruled intentional and high, with low impact.

Western Bulldogs recruit James Harmes also faces a one-match ban for headbutting after an incident involving former Melbourne teammate Steven May during the Demons' 45-point win on Sunday.

Harmes' contact came during a running battle with premiership defender May and was ruled intentional and high, with low impact.

Fremantle star Nathan Fyfe was cleared over the incident in which he clumsily bumped the Brisbane Lions' Jarryd Lyons to the head in the opening stages of the Dockers' upset 23-point win on Sunday.

On Monday, a host of players were fined out of Sunday's three matches.

With early pleas, West Coast's No.1 draft pick Harley Reid, teammate Jack Petruccelle and Port Adelaide's Ollie Wines can all accept $1250 fines for careless contact with umpires.

Eagles utility Elliot Yeo and Dockers forward Michael Walters can accept $1250 fines for tripping Port's Aliir Aliir and Brisbane's Brandon Starcevich respectively.

Fremantle youngster Matthew Johnson can accept a $2500 fine for rough conduct on Lions midfielder Josh Dunkley, with the contact deemed careless and high, with low impact.

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