Coleambally ruckman and former coach Josh Hamilton was a relieved – and lucky – man Tuesday night after being cleared of headbutting and striking charges.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“Bloody oath,” Hamilton said when asked if he was happy on the way out of a three-hour hearing which threatened his playing career.
He was found not guilty by an AFL Riverina independent tribunal, having been cited by East Wagga-Kooringal following their round 10 match at Coleambally last month.
Hamilton’s career record means a two game ban would’ve resulted in deregistration by the AFL.
The independent panel, comprising chairman Errol Gibbs (Hume League tribunal), Wayne Taylor (Ovens and Murray League tribunal) and Wagga’s Brett Vearing) found inconclusive evidence on the striking charge.
The panel found a headbutting charge could not be sustained.
“He was charged with headbutting. We accepted a version consistent with contact to the head but not consistent with headbutting,” Gibbs said.
The hearing was closed to the media but it’s understood the two clubs had vastly differing accounts of what occurred.
The Hawks alleged Hamilton headbutted defender Jacob Tiernan and punched midfielder Joe Scott during a third-quarter altercation. Both players gave evidence, Scott by phone after being caught away with work.
Injured teammate Nick Hull, who was running the water, was a key witness with the panel impressed with his evidence.
Hull did not see the alleged punch to Scott, however he saw Hamilton pull Tiernan towards him in an incident the panel decided was likely to have resulted in some contact to the head but did not constitute a headbutt.
Hamilton and the Coleambally club strongly rejected the accusations and five witnesses, including teammates and club officials, firmly backed his account.
None of the officiating umpires saw the alleged incidents.
The Blues big man is free to play North Wagga this weekend. He has missed Coleambally’s last two games against Marrar and Barellan.
The game against East Wagga-Kooringal was Hamilton’s first after serving an eight-match suspension following last year’s grand final loss to the Hawks.