Coleambally coach Josh Hamilton made an impassioned plea to the AFL Riverina tribunal on Wednesday night asking not to be hit with a penalty that would rub him out of the game for good and pledging to take steps to improve his on-field behaviour.
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In the end, the Blues ruckman was suspended for eight weeks for two separate striking offences in the Farrer League grand final, narrowly avoiding being deregistered as a player or official.
Suspended for a total of six weeks throughout his career previously, Hamilton will now be two games off the 16-week threshold that results in a life ban.
He had previously looked set to re-sign with Coleambally for a second season but is likely to take some time to consider his future.
The former Griffith and Lavington player made a statement to the tribunal before its final deliberation.
Hamilton apologised and said he was prepared to accept responsibility for his actions but pleaded to be given an opportunity to return the game.
He said he had done some soul searching in recent weeks and was committed to rehabilitating himself.
He was among four players who copped a total of 21 matches – all for intentional striking charges – at a lengthy hearing at Ganmain.
Hamilton was suspended for three weeks for a high shot on East Wagga-Kooringal defender Guy McAlister and given a five week ban for punching James Creasy during the third quarter melee.
Creasy was also hit with a five week ban for punching Hamilton in response.
The pair had come to blows after an incident involving EWK’s Zac Robinson and Blue Brandon Mathews.
Souring the Hawks’ grand final win, Robinson will also miss the first five weeks of next season after being found guilty of elbowing Coleambally veteran Brandon Mathews, which the tribunal said ignited the melee.
Mathews was suspended for three games for throwing a punch in retaliation.
He pointed to his history of 20 years of senior football without a reportable offence but a player’s good record is deemed irrelevant and provocation no excuse.
Mathews and Creasy were left with blood streaming from their faces at the time. The tribunal said the incidents had marred the competition’s showpiece event and that the penalties included loading due to their occurrence in a grand final.
The tribunal chairman also praised the umpires’ handling of the melee.
Both clubs and the players declined to comment.
In total, five players were suspended for 23 weeks in the spiteful grand final, with Coleambally’s Todd Clark previously accepting a two-week ban for charging.