The West Coast Eagles have decided against challenging the Match Review Panel decision to suspend forward Mark LeCras for this week’s Carlton Draught Derby against Fremantle.
LeCras was reported on Saturday night by field umpire Dean Margetts on a charge of rough conduct after a bump on Hawthorn defender James Frawley.
The MRP classified the incident as careless conduct with medium impact to the head, leading to a two-match sanction.
LeCras had no applicable bad record, so an early plea reduced the penalty to a one-match ban.
The loss of LeCras is a blow because, aside from his contribution up forward, he has been an important part of the midfield rotations where his class and ball distribution have been telling factors in the team’s performances this season.
LeCras was the Eagles’ best in the last derby, kicking five goals to take some sting out of Fremantle’s 56-point first quarter.
Match Day Information: Fremantle v West Coast
Later today the club will find out more about the hamstring injury to key defender Jeremy McGovern, while it will wait until deeper into the week to ascertain whether ruckman Nic Naitanui will return from Fiji to play.
