Overview

• The Match Review Officer graded the bump as careless with medium impact and high contact, resulting in a one-match suspension.
• West Coast sought to downgrade the impact to low to convert the sanction to a fine, but the Tribunal dismissed the appeal.
• The panel found the contact carried the potential to cause concussion or a neck injury given Warner’s body position over the ball.
• Baker testified he tried to minimise contact and felt he only brushed Warner’s hair, a claim the AFL rejected by pointing to Warner’s buzz cut and Baker’s body shape.
• The upheld ban rules Baker out of round one in 2026 and delays West Coast’s short‑term leadership plans after his recent stint as stand‑in captain.