Four players have been hit with suspensions totalling 21 matches for striking charges arising from the Farrer League grand final between East Wagga-Kooringal and Coleambally earlier this month.
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At a lengthy, late-night hearing in Ganmain on Wednesday night, the AFL Riverina independent tribunal said the third-quarter incidents had damaged the competition. It took the grand final occasion into account when handing down the following penalties:
- Josh Hamilton (Coleambally): eight matches (three matches for striking Guy McAlister; five matches for striking James Creasy)
- Zac Robinson (EWK): five matches for striking Brandon Mathews
- Brandon Mathews (Coleambally): three matches for striking Zac Robinson
- James Creasy (EWK): five matches for striking Josh Hamilton
The tribunal confirmed the penalties were heavier as a result of occurring in the biggest game of the year (under the sport’s guidelines, tribunals have the discretion to apply a loading of up to 100 percent for offences during a grand final).
Hamilton pleaded not guilty to intentionally striking McAlister in a stand-alone incident during the third quarter, when he caught the Hawks defender high.
The Coleambally coach argued it was a clumsy attempt at a tackle rather than a deliberate act but the tribunal found him guilty as cited by the match review panel. Deemed intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact, he was suspended for three games.
The other four charges all related to the ugly melee later in the third quarter which resulted in all four players being yellow carded during the game.
Zac Robinson pleaded not guilty to intentionally striking Brandon Mathews with an elbow. He said he was prepared to plead guilty to a lesser charge of careless contact in self-defence, arguing that he was under provocation from Mathews who had pushed him.
However, the tribunal found he had intentionally struck Mathews to the temple. He was handed a five-match ban on the grounds that the incident had sparked the ensuing melee.
Mathews was suspended for three matches for throwing a punch in retaliation. He pleaded guilty and put himself at the mercy of the tribunal, saying he’s played 20 years of senior football without a reportable offence. He apologised unreservedly and argued it was an instinctive reaction to being hit.
Mathews was one of four players yellow carded following the melee but was not reported by the umpires. He was cited by the match review panel on video evidence.
Hawks midfielder James Creasy and Hamilton were each given a five-match ban after they came to blows following the incident involving Robinson and Mathews.
Creasy, like Robinson, was prepared to plead guilty to careless contact and argued he was acting in self-defence.
He said after being hit twice by his opponent, he had no option but to retaliate. However, the tribunal pointed out that retaliation is no defence and also found that he had inflamed the situation by throwing a football at Hamilton and remonstrating with him.
He was found guilty of intentionally striking Hamilton. The charge was graded high contact and high impact.
Hamilton pleaded guilty to the same charge and copped the same penalty as Creasy.
He admitted he hadn't helped the situation by ‘flying the flag’ for a team-mate, running in and pushing Robinson after seeing Mathews split open.
The Blues coach admitted to throwing the first punch in his clash with Creasy but said he had reacted after being hit in the head with the football and pushed into the boundary fence.
Hamilton said he regretted his actions and was prepared to accept a penalty for the incident.
The eight weeks in suspensions from the grand final have Hamilton on the cusp of being deregistered as a player.
He was informed of both penalties at the end of his second hearing. The tribunal said the two incidents were treated separately but it elected against declaring the first punishment when a second hearing for the same player was still to come.
The tribunal praised the actions of the umpires, including reporting umpire Andrew Jackman, for ensuring a difficult situation didn’t escalate out of control.
Both clubs and the four players appearing at the hearing were also commended for treating the tribunal hearing with respect, and for being honest and candid in their assessments of the incidents.
However, the panel said it had an obligation to send a message that unsavoury incidents would not be tolerated, particularly in the biggest game of the year.
In total, five players have been suspended following the Hawks’ breakthrough first grade grand final victory, with Coleambally’s Todd Clark already accepting a two-week suspension for charging EWK’s Sam Armstrong in the second quarter.
Concluding the post-script to an eventful grand final day, North Wagga reserve grade player Lachlan Robertson is to face a hearing in Wagga on Thursday evening, charged with striking EWK’s Scott Burge in the last quarter of the Saints’ loss to the Hawks in the earlier game.