Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra has received a fine of $5,500.
Cerra was the first player to be sent to the Tribunal for four or more careless contact with umpire charges in a two-year block, with the AFL informing clubs of its latest crackdown earlier this month.
The Blues on-baller pleaded guilty to the charge, meaning the hearing revolved around the sanction, which saw the AFL counsel (Andrew Woods) and Carlton representative (Elizabeth Woods) differ in opinion.
Players are currently fined $1000 for a first offence of making careless contact with an umpire with an early guilty plea, $1875 for a second offence and $3125 for a third offence. Further fines are subject to being more significant if referred to the Tribunal.
The AFL was after a $6,250 fine, which is double the amount of the third offence of this particular charge. Carlton thought a penalty of $5,000 was sufficient.
"If that is deemed a careless act ... he'll be off to the Tribunal."
Adam Cerra could be off to the Tribunal for umpire contact, per @cleary_mitch. pic.twitter.com/FbjJwmkr9n
โ 7AFL (@7AFL) July 10, 2025
"$1,250 more (than what would usually be charged) is an appropriate increase to achieve specific and general deterrence," Woods (AFL) said during the hearing.
"To penalise Cerra for the fact there are a lot of umpire contacts this year would be unfair. It would be punishing him for events that he has absolutely no control over," Bateman (Carlton) said in response.
Bateman also noted that if Cerra had previously known about the four-offence threshold imposed by the AFL earlier this month, he may have argued some of the cases instead of accepting the early plea.
Carlton will also face a fine of $5000 that is exempt from the soft cap, in addition to Cerra's punishment, given that he pleaded guilty to the fourth offence.
Following a major increase in offences from previous years, the league is fed up with "seeing far too many instances of avoidable umpire contact", according to CEO Andrew Dillon, and had not seen a behaviour change.
"We have an obligation to provide the best working environment for everyone, including the umpires, and there have been too many instances of avoidable umpire contact."
Cerra is free to face Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday.