Tristan Xerri Suspended Three Matches for Serious Misconduct

North Melbourne ruckman Tristan Xerri has been issued a three-match suspension by the AFL Tribunal for serious misconduct. The suspension follows an incident during a match against Essendon where Xerri wiped blood from his nose on the face of Essendon captain Andrew McGrath. Xerri pleaded guilty to the charge and expressed remorse for his actions.

The suspension follows an incident during a match against Essendon where Xerri wiped blood from his nose on the face of Essendon captain Andrew McGrath.

Incident Details

The incident occurred in the second quarter of Saturday night's game at Marvel Stadium, shortly after Xerri had kicked a goal. Xerri had sustained a bloodied nose minutes earlier in a collision. During a subsequent confrontation with Essendon players, Xerri made contact with McGrath's face with his hand, which had blood on it.

Initial commentary on the incident suggested that such actions are undesirable in the game, with speculation about potential suspensions ranging from several weeks.

Tribunal Proceedings

At the AFL Tribunal, Tristan Xerri immediately pleaded guilty to a charge of serious misconduct.

Xerri stated that his emotions were heightened due to verbal abuse from opposing players, who he alleged had called him names such as "flopper," "weak c-word," and "effing flopping c-word." He described his action as a "brain fade." Xerri admitted to being aware of blood on his right hand before making contact with McGrath's face.

AFL counsel Andrew Woods SC advocated for a three-match suspension. Woods argued that Xerri's deliberate action brought the game into disrepute and served as a poor example.

North Melbourne's advocate, Justin Graham KC, proposed a two-match ban. Graham argued that Xerri had no intent to cause harm and that McGrath's play was not interrupted. He also cited previous cases where players received one-match bans for similar incidents involving wiping blood on opponents' jumpers or shorts.

Tribunal Decision

Tribunal chairman Jeff Gleeson KC ruled that Xerri's actions constituted "disgraceful behaviour." Gleeson highlighted that the blood "could quite easily have made contact with McGrath’s mouth" and distinguished Xerri’s direct facial contact as significantly more serious than previous cases involving contact with attire. He also noted the purpose of the blood rule in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Gleeson acknowledged Xerri's early plea, remorseful and candid testimony, and transparency in admitting to having blood on his hand (which was not clearly visible in match footage) as factors that potentially prevented a longer penalty than three weeks.

Player's Response and Apology

Xerri expressed deep remorse for his actions. He contacted Andrew McGrath the day after the game to apologize, which McGrath accepted. Xerri also apologized to his club and stated his understanding of the medical implications regarding fluid contact in sports, confirming he had consulted a doctor regarding the risk of spreading infectious disease subsequent to the incident.

Impact of Suspension

As a result of the three-match suspension, Tristan Xerri will be unavailable for North Melbourne's upcoming matches against Carlton, Brisbane, and Richmond.

Precedent

Previous incidents cited include:

• Collingwood's Nathan Buckley received a one-match ban in 2002 for deliberately smearing blood on an opponent's jumper.
• Jeremy Howe was fined in 2012 for wiping blood on an opponent's shorts.