3 minute read

Geelong's Tom Hawkins can accept a $3000 fine with an early plea for his high hit on Sydney's Jordan Dawson.

Geelong forward Tom Hawkins is free to play in Friday night's AFL blockbuster against Richmond after escaping suspension for his high hit on Sydney's Jordan Dawson.

Hawkins gave away a 50-metre penalty on Saturday when he caught Dawson in the head with a clumsily raised forearm in the final term of the Cats' 22-point home win.

But the spearhead can escape with a $3000 sanction via an early guilty plea after match review officer Michael Christian deemed the incident was careless rather than intentional.

Hawkins has now been found guilty of two financial offences this season.

Geelong coach Chris Scott was always confident Hawkins would escape suspension.

"There wouldn't be anyone who would think the action was intentional," Scott said.

"It was careless, that is the worst it is. It was high and no impact and it's a fine."

Collingwood's Adam Treloar, Hawthorn's James Sicily, and Western Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton also avoided suspension.

Treloar was fined $1500 for his body strike on Fremantle's Reece Conca during Collingwood's four-point loss on Saturday.

Sicily's off-the-ball punch to the midriff of Brisbane's Lincoln McCarthy was deemed intentional but with low impact, attracting a $2000 fine.

And Naughton was slugged with the same exact fine for his swinging gut punch on West Coast's Will Schofield.

The match day reports against Fremantle's Ethan Hughes and Gold Coast's David Swallow were thrown out.