AFL Tribunal Fines Carlton Midfielder Adam Cerra $5,550 for Umpire Contact, Brisbane Lions' Zac Bailey Suspended for One Match for Rough Conduct

Adam Cerra has been fined $5,550 for umpire contact during an AFL game. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was the first player to face the AFL Tribunal under the league's new measures. Cerra had previously been booked for similar offenses and was referred directly to the tribunal due to the league's crackdown on contact with umpires.

Adam Cerra, a midfielder for Carlton, has been fined $5,550 for umpire contact during an AFL game, marking the first instance under the league's new measures. Cerra pleaded guilty to the charge and was referred directly to the AFL Tribunal due to the league's recent crackdown on player contact with umpires. The incident occurred in the Blues' heavy loss to the Lions last Thursday and was the fourth time Cerra had made careless contact with an umpire in the past two years.

Under the AFL's new rules, players found to have made contact with umpires three times in a period of two calendar years will now be sent to the tribunal, where they will either receive a heavier fine or a suspension for a fourth offense. This change was implemented to address the increasing number of umpires being concussed due to player contact. Despite the seriousness of the issue, the league's handling of the situation has been criticized for being overly bureaucratic and resource-intensive.

Gerard Whateley, a veteran AFL broadcaster, commented on the hearing, stating, "I’ve seen high farce, when cases were cooked up in the lifts and the chairman present! I’ve seen players blatantly lie and pure themselves. I’ve heard bio-mechanists invent the most fanciful stories. I have seen character witness, submissions from Prime Ministers to lower penalties... Tonight, the AFL has reached new levels of high farce, as they quibbled over $1,250 with a panel of lawyers who will shortly bill for about $30,000."

The tribunal deliberated for nearly 30 minutes before fining Cerra $5,500. While the fine was closer to Carlton's hoped figure of $5,000, it was $750 less than the AFL's proposed $6,125. Cerra's lawyers argued for a lighter penalty, citing the player's lack of awareness of the rule change. The league's barrister, Andrew Woods, sought a higher fine to deter other players and remind them of their duty of care to avoid careless conduct towards umpires.

The incident highlights the league's ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of umpires and maintain the integrity of the game. However, the high cost and resource-intensive nature of the tribunal process have drawn criticism from some observers. The league will continue to monitor player conduct and adjust its rules as necessary to protect umpires and maintain the safety of the game.

References:

[1] https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2025-afl-tribunal-labelled-a-high-farce-for-adam-cerra-hearing-for-umpire-contact-how-much-was-he-fined-gerard-whateley-comments-on-afl-360-reactions-latest-news/news-story/b0604ec45b474d5a060d70b837225b96
[2] https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/blues-midfielder-under-new-umpire-contact-rules-dons-lose-two-talented-forwards-as-injury-crisis-deepens-20250715-p5mezt.html