Geelong Advertiser |
ANGLESEA Football Club has admitted it was “bitterly disappointed” with the nine-week suspension handed down to its player, Tom Midolo, at the AFL Barwon tribunal last week.
The club yesterday delivered a written statement to the Geelong Advertiser, saying it did not believe Midolo was guilty of the charge, but would reluctantly accept the hefty penalty.
Midolo was found guilty of conduct unbecoming after a 90-minute investigation hearing on Wednesday night over an off-the-ball incident which left Geelong Amateur’s Jarrod Westwood with a broken jaw.
The incident occurred in their BFL match on June 28.
Geelong Amateur president Simon Farrell told the tribunal he had witnessed the incident, saying Midolo had struck Westwood with a left round-arm, a claim Midolo strongly denied during the hearing.
“Considering conflicting evidence presented at the recent tribunal hearing Anglesea Football Club does not believe our player is guilty of the charge,” the club said in its statement.
“In firmly believing in his innocence our player and the club will accept the judgment handed down by the tribunal. However we do not agree with, and are bitterly disappointed in, the decision.
“With this in mind the club and players acknowledge the injuries incurred by Jarrod Westwood and genuinely wish him well in the future.”
“At Anglesea Football Club we continue to encourage and support those representing the club, particularly those who have progressed through our junior system to become reliable, diligent
and club-oriented senior players.
We require those representing our club to be honest and fair on the field and in general club matters; in return the club wholeheartedly supports the individual.”