A regretful Luke Stevens has come to terms with missing Sunday's grand final appearance for Wagga City Wanderers.
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Stevens was red-carded during extra time of Sunday's 2-1 win over Queanbeyan and receives an automatic one-game suspension that rules him out of the grand final.
Stevens starred with two big moments in the semi-final win, snaring the Wanderers opening goal, before drawing a penalty that led to the match-winner in extra-time.
But it was his response to the Queanbeyan crowd to that goal that saw him red-carded and now miss the grand final against Yoogali.
"I'm prepared for that to happen. It's disappointing, I've spoken to Brendan (Flanagan) and he's said it's pretty limited in what we can do. As I said, it's really disappointing," Stevens said.
"We've worked really hard this season to get in this position. Last game we struggled through it, both teams went down to 10, it was a really good game to be apart of and I'm really glad I could help the boys through that but again disappointing that I saw red towards the end of the game."
Stevens was the target of some abuse from the Queanbeyan crowd and gave his own back when the Wanderers moved 2-1 up.
The linesmen heard Stevens' remarks and he was shown a red card at the half-time break.
Stevens accepts what he did was wrong and plans to use it as a learning opportunity.
"I spoke to Matt Menser about it and Babs as well, we said it's a learning opportunity," he said.
"It's something I've got to learn to not listen to and keep it out of my game and not worry about it.
"It's very disappointing but it's something I've got to improve with my mental capacity to deal with those sort of things."
He is also disappointed with how things unfolded last Sunday.
"If I'm being honest, Capital Football, I think one thing they've really got to look at is how things were handled. I don't think that game was handled very well," he said.
"The game shouldn't have gone into extra time in the first place."
Stevens will now turn his focus to supporting his teammates as much as he can.
"Obviously it will be tough going to training knowing that I'm not going to be getting out on the park on the day. I just want to get around the boys and support them every way I can," he said.
"Obviously I'll be there on the day and yelling and screaming and supporting them, and doing everything I can.
"Whoever takes my place, I'm backing them 100 per cent to do a job. We've got players in this club who can take my position and do really well, so I'm confident they will give Yoogali a good run for their money and put on a good display."
Stevens will be a big loss for the Wanderers.
He has scored four goals from nine first grade appearances this season, while he also booted five in his one and only under 23 appearance.
Wanderers director Brendan Flanagan said it was a harsh lesson for Stevens to learn.
"We've got no basis for appeal under the laws of the game unfortunately," Flanagan said.
"It's such a shame because what Luke did wasn't great but he didn't go out and take anybody's head off. I think any young bloke would have been tempted to do what he did given the treatment he got from their crowd. Their crowd was very, very ordinary.
"Luke will learn from it. It's a very hard lesson to learn. I really feel sorry for him. I don't condone what he said but I understand it."
The grand finals will be played at Deakin Stadium in Canberra on Sunday. The Wanderers' under 23s will play at 11am, followed by the men at 1pm.
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