Bracher's head made contact with the ground in a tackle during the Saints' clash with the Raiders at McNamara Reserve on Saturday and the tribunal concluded the potential to cause injury couldn't be ignored.

Myrtleford player advocate Mark Knobel argued the players had linked arms in the process of the tackle and their combined momentum was what caused Bracher to hit the ground head first as Sharp fell and brought the young Raider with him.

The penalty for Sharp was three matches, but given his clean record and the care he showed for Bracher after the tackle, one of those was suspended for the remainder of the season.

Tribunal chairman Wayne Taylor said the panel came to the decision it was a poorly-executed tackle from Sharp and it was his involvement that caused the incident.

"It was a difficult sentencing exercise. Although it was ultimately low impact, we have to consider the potential to cause injury," he said.

"Brady recognised this in his reaction."

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In an incident just seconds later, Wodonga Raider Dylan Clarke was handed a three-match ban for striking Myrtleford's Ryley Sharp, with two of those suspended for the next two years.

Clarke reacted to the tackle on Bracher and pushed Brady Sharp off, as Ryley Sharp then moved in to shove him away.

In reaction to the contact from Ryley, Clarke struck in him in the stomach which left the Saints forward winded.

Clarke had been handed two reprimands for incidents with the Murray Bushrangers in 2018 and 2019.

With no football played in 2020, the tribunal wanted to send Clarke a message that this was his last chance to change his behaviour.

"Dylan's history causes us concern," Taylor said.

"The set penalty is two matches and he has a record in the past two seasons.

"If he comes back it will start at two and it's only going to get worse."

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