Essendon are facing the prospect of copping a $50,000 fine after young guns Sullivan Robey and Angus Clarke were cited for umpire contact.
The AFL has dealt Robey and Clarke respective fines of $3125 and $1500 after Essendon’s 90-point loss to Brisbane on Sunday.
Sullivan Robey in action against Brisbane. Getty
The two offences take Essendon’s tally of fines for umpire contact this season to five – and the AFL had previously threatened that five or more instances of that nature could lead to a fine of up to $50,000.
The fines for Robey and Clarke will stand unless the Bombers successfully appeal the charges at the tribunal this week.
Gold Coast were last month fined $20,000 after being charged with five instances of umpire contact.
Brisbane midfielder Jarrod Berry received a $1500 fine for umpire contact in Sunday’s clash, while Essendon big man Sam Draper was given a $3000 fine for tripping Jye Caldwell.
Essendon are navigating one of the most woeful periods by a club in competition history.
They are wallowing in 18th on the ladder and have won just one of their past 30 games, across last season and this year.
The Bombers are in the hunt for a permanent head coach after Brad Scott was sacked in May.
Dean Solomon, who stepped up on an interim basis, is yet to oversee a win after six games in charge.
Polarising Bombers icon James Hird is in the running to return as head coach from 2027.
Essendon have requested to be given an assistance package at season’s end.