Adam Cerra to front AFL Tribunal as Carlton onballer falls foul of umpire contact crackdown

Adam Cerra will front the AFL tribunal and could be suspended after the Carlton midfielder became the first player to trigger the new measures against umpire contact.

And Brisbane forward Zac Bailey has been offered a one-game ban for the high bump that left Blues defender Nick Haynes holding his face in Thursday night’s win to the Lions at the MCG.

Before the harsher penalty announced on July 1, Cerra could have accepted a fine for his second-quarter incident.

But because it is his fourth umpire contact penalty in a two-year period, Cerra was referred directly to the tribunal.

Under the new measures, the AFL could ask the tribunal to suspend Cerra if he is found guilty or ask for a stiffer financial penalty.

The crackdown also means Carlton face a separate $5000 fine if Cerra is found guilty.

The AFL Players’ Association is unhappy with the new penalties, saying it wasn’t consulted before the league announced the changes.

Gold Coast’s Brownlow Medal hopeful Matt Rowell is another player at risk of being sent to the tribunal and coach Damien Hardwick defended him, saying accidents are going to happen.

Cerra’s tribunal referral is another problem that Carlton do not need in the midst of a disastrous season.

Bailey’s suspension is a blow to the defending premiers ahead of next week’s big home game against the Western Bulldogs, unless the second-placed Lions successfully take the charge to the tribunal.

He caught Haynes high with a bump in the forward pocket during the third term of Friday night’s win.

The contact was graded careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, triggering the one-game suspension.