Nicholas Suban Biography

Nick Suban is holding onto hope of an AFL lifeline after being delisted by Fremantle.

"I have really enjoyed my time at Fremantle and want to thank everyone who has helped me over the past nine years," Suban said.

"I am proud to be a life member of the club but feel like I still have a lot to give an AFL club and hope to play against the boys at some stage next year."

Daniel Menzel heads a list of six players overlooked in this year's free agency period.

Menzel did not receive an offer from a rival team by Sunday's 5pm deadline, while fellow free agents Nick Suban (Fremantle), Ben Howlett (Essendon), Simon White (Carlton), Ben Sinclair (Collingwood) and Claye Beams (Brisbane Lions) were all left in limbo too.

Nick Suban is exploring his options at rival AFL clubs while he waits to discover if Fremantle will offer him a contract for next season.

Suban was awarded life membership by the Dockers at the weekend, but appears unlikely to be given a new deal before the NAB AFL Trade Period ends.

Accepting life membership at the Doig Medal presentation, Suban spoke how his love for Fremantle has grown since he arrived in the west via pick No.24 in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

"It means a lot. Coming in as an 18-year-old I was just happy really to play one game, let alone 150," Suban said.

"This club means the world to me, so I'm very proud.

"I'd just like to thank everyone at the club, the coaches, fitness staff, physios, doctors, everyone that works behind the scenes, you've really helped me develop as a man and as a person."

On the eve of 150th game, Nick Suban says he is relishing his run-with role and believes he still has plenty to offer the rebuilding Dockers next season.

"I'm not too sure what the go is (with a new contract) at the moment, it's just a week-to-week thing for me," he said.

"We'll take care of that at the end of the year.

"We've got a lot of exciting young kids and it's an exciting to place to be around at the moment.

"I'd love to be here (next year)."

St Kilda accepts a two-game suspension handed to defender Jimmy Webster for his thumb to the eye of Fremantle midfielder Nick Suban.

The Match Review Panel on Monday deemed Webster made "unreasonable and unnecessary contact" to Suban's eye, assessing the incident as intentional conduct with medium impact to the head.

Slow-motion replays captured Webster first making contact with Suban's ear region before he reached over again using his right thumb to poke the Docker's left eye, which forced his opponent to ground.

Nick Suban has emerged as a likely trade target for Victorian clubs this year.

Suban is contracted with Freo until the end of next year, and the Victorian is understood to be happy in Western Australia and is married to a Perth girl.

But the Dockers are likely to take an open mind into October's trade period, having signalled their intention to rebuild after a dramatic fall down the ladder this season.

Fremantle midfielder Lachie Neale has defended teammate Nick Suban after Suban was accused of unsportsmanlike behaviour during a spiteful Tribunal hearing on Tuesday night.

Suban was a witness in the case that saw West Coast midfielder Chris Masten suspended for two matches for biting the Docker's arm during last Sunday's Western Derby.

The Eagles accused Suban of being unsportsmanlike and causing Masten to bite down on his arm after allegedly forcing his it around Masten's head during their wrestle.

"Nick's a really fierce competitor and we love the way he goes about his footy," Neale said.

"I think you see on the field all the time, guys push the line and really try and play hard and aggressive footy and that's all Nick does. I don't think he's unsportsmanlike at all."

Chris Masten is found guilty by the Tribunal of biting Fremantle's Nick Suban and is handed a two-match suspension.

Masten pleaded not guilty and argued he had reacted instinctively to Suban pressing his forearm into his mouth.

The Eagles even called a dental surgeon and jaw expert to explain the jaw reflex that could have taken place when Masten felt pressure inside his mouth, also using former coach John Worsfold as a character reference.

But evidence from Suban and a damning photograph of the Dockers midfielder's arm meant the jury had little room to move in suspending Masten for biting.

Masten was clearly shattered when the result was handed down and will now miss matches against the Western Bulldogs and Adelaide, returning for the final regular season match against St Kilda.

Asked if he had bitten Suban, Masten said: "Absolutely not … my mouth is wedged on his forearm. There was no intention to bite. I must have closed it by reaction".

A photo of Suban's left forearm was shown to an AFL investigator on Monday and again to the Tribunal on Tuesday, showing a clear breaking of the skin, which Fremantle said had required treatment and a course of antibiotics.

Suban also gave evidence that that backed up his match-day comments to an umpire, telling the Tribunal he felt a bite on his arm.

Masten's case was built on the biting action being an involuntary reaction to pressure in his mouth, with the Eagles calling on dental surgeon Dr Robert Delcanho, who said a "physiological reflex" could have occurred "activating jaw-closing muscles".

Worsfold gave character evidence, saying Masten was "a very fair player" and it was not in his nature to fight or wrestle opponents.

As he left the Tribunal in Perth, Masten said: "I got a really fair hearing, just unhappy with the decision obviously. We'll get on with it in a couple of weeks."

The Match Review Panel will on Monday investigate a biting allegation made against West Coast midfielder Chris Masten.

Masten is alleged to have bitten Fremantle's Nick Suban in Sunday's Western Derby, prompting an incident referral.

Suban motions to his arm after the incident and tells the umpire Masten bit him, with audio caught on the umpire's microphone.

Nick Suban and Jon Griffin sign three- and one-year contract extensions respectively to stay at Fremantle.

"It was probably the most consistent year that I've had," Suban said in a club statement.

"I thought it just boiled down to having a full pre-season. I'm really looking forward to working hard and trying to get back into the team again with another solid pre-season."

Griffin ruptured his ACL in round seven against Collingwood and missed the rest of the 2013 season but hopes to bounce back stronger than ever in 2014.

"It was a dream come true to be able to play for Fremantle," Griffin said in a club statement.

"Rehab is going really well and I am ticking all the boxes to make sure my body is 100 per cent.

"I'm pushing for round one, I have all the support of the physios and strength and conditioning coaches. I just can't wait to get out there and play for Freo again."

Nick Suban will miss round one next season after his misconduct charge drew a penalty of 150 points at the Tribunal on Tuesday night.

Suban was charged after making contact to the face of Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell in the Grand Final, but his case was referred directly to the Tribunal, with the Match Review Panel "uncomfortable" with the excessive penalty it would have returned.

Suban would have been ruled out for six weeks under the MRP guidelines because of the double loading for Grand Final misdemeanours.

The Grand Final loading, however, was still taken into account by the jury of Richard Loveridge, Wayne Henwood and Wayne Schimmelbusch, who took seven minutes to settle on the 150-point penalty.

Getting to 50 games has been a long time coming for Fremantle's Nick Suban, and it's given him a chance to set new goals.

"The goal this year is to be fit and available and hopefully I can play the majority of the year and play consistent footy," he said.

"There have been a few ups and downs there with a couple of years with injuries, but it's good to finally get to 50. I'm feeling really fit and strong, and I'm really looking forward to the season."

Fremantle's Nick Suban has extended his contract until the end of the 2014 season.

Nick Suban suffers a broken right leg against North Melbourne but Fremantle are hopeful he can be back within eight weeks.

"We've spoken to Nick and he's very positive and upbeat about getting back out playing with his teammates," Fremantle football manager Chris Bond said.

"Our medical advice at this stage is that he should be ready to go within eight weeks."

Fremantle youngster Nicholas Suban breaks through with the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round 21 after notching 25 possessions in a 54-point win over Essendon.

"It's really exciting to have a lot of young guys coming through like myself. We are building to the next few years, and hopefully we can win some more games and help Fremantle push to finals and bigger things from there," Suban said of the young Fremantle side.

"It is really exciting to be playing with the group of guys we've got there at the moment."

Geelong's Cameron Ling can escape with a reprimand for striking Fremantle's Nick Suban, while Bomber Mark McVeigh is facing a week on the sidelines with a level three striking offence.

Stephen Hill and Nic Suban have made the cut to be in Fremantle's side as the final teams are announced for Sunday's matches.