In a decisive ruling from AFL House, St Kilda midfielder Marcus Windhager has been found guilty of striking following an incident in the first quarter of the Round 15 match between St Kilda and Collingwood.
The charge, laid by the Match Review Officer, stemmed from an off-the-ball altercation in which Windhager was seen making high contact with a Collingwood player during a contested stoppage. After a detailed review and submission of evidence, the AFL Tribunal upheld the charge, confirming that the action met the league’s threshold for a reportable offence.
Windhager’s actions were classified as:
•Intent: Intentional
•Impact: Medium
•Contact: High
As a result, the Tribunal has handed down a one-match suspension, meaning Windhager will be ineligible to play in Round 16 unless St Kilda lodges an appeal and succeeds.
The verdict comes at a challenging time for the Saints, who are already grappling with injury setbacks and form inconsistency. Losing Windhager — known for his defensive tagging roles and midfield pressure — adds further strain to their selection options.
The AFL released the official summary:
“Marcus Windhager has been found guilty of Striking during the Round 15 match at the MCG. The charge was upheld following a full Tribunal hearing.”
St Kilda has yet to confirm whether it will accept the sanction or pursue an appeal before the deadline.
© AFL House / 2025
