Brent Harvey left the training track on Monday without comment after being informed he had been slugged with a one-match suspension that, barring a successful tribunal challenge, will sideline him from North Melbourne's first preliminary final for seven years, away to Sydney.
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Veteran Harvey was training at Arden Street when he was informed of the match review panel's decision. He immediately headed inside the club's headquarters.
The Kangaroos have confirmed they will challenge the verdict at the tribunal on Tuesday night. Harvey does not risk being suspended for an additional match - potentially a grand final - with an adverse tribunal ruling, instead of just Friday's match at ANZ Stadium.
Harvey was charged, for the second time in his past three matches, over a bump he laid on Joel Selwood last Friday night that left the Geelong captain bleeding from a cut above his eye. The cut was caused by a clash of heads - a scenario which does not save the player who engages the contact, due to an off-season rule change.
The panel deemed his act was negligent, low impact and high contact. In isolation that offence could be reduced to a reprimand, but it was not available to Harvey because he is saddled by a 10 per cent loading and 41.5 carry-over points.
Both were gained in his round-21 misconduct ban that sidelined him from the Kangaroos' first final, against Essendon.The loading and carry-over points swelled Harvey's penalty to 178.5 points, which can be reduced to 133.88 with a guilty plea.
In short, all North risks in taking the case to the tribunal on Tuesday evening is Harvey being saddled with an additional 44.62 carry-over points.
Customarily the panel deems players who have jumped to deliver a high bump guilty of reckless conduct. Had it done so in this instance Harvey would have been banned for two matches, even after a 25 per cent discount for a guilty plea.
Selwood was pulling up near centre half-forward after just delivering a handball into the centre corridor when Harvey jumped into a bump which, due to a head clash, cut the rugged midfielder just above his eyebrow.
While the Cats midfielder kept his feet and did not even grimace after the impact, the panel seemingly took more notice of the wound it created in deciding to lay the charge.
A match-day report against Fremantle's Zac Dawson, for striking Port Adelaide's Robbie Gray, was thrown out.
MATCH REVIEW PANEL - FINALS WEEK 2
Brent Harvey (NM) rough conduct to Joel Selwood (Geel): negligent, low impact, high contact. 125 points up due to bad record and carry-over points to 178.5 (1 match); 133.88 with guilty plea (1 match).
Investigated but not charged:
Reported: Zac Dawson (Fre) striking Robbie Gray (PA).
