Bendigo Advertiser | MARYBOROUGH’S Jamie Bond will still coach the Magpies against Strathfieldsaye this Saturday, despite being suspended by the Bendigo Football League tribunal on Wednesday night.
Bond pleaded guilty to a report of abusing an umpire during last Saturday night’s defeat to Sandhurst.
The non-playing coach was reported by two umpires and received a one-match ban and two matches suspended by the tribunal.
However, he will still be permitted to coach the Magpies this Saturday from behind the fence.
Bond admitted frustration got the better of him last week during the 118-point loss to the Dragons.
“I did the wrong thing and you do the crime, you do the time,” Bond said.
“We are a young side and I was disappointed in some of the decisions that didn’t reward the boys’ tackling efforts. I was frustrated, but realise I shouldn’t have said anything.
“Next time I’m in that situation I’ll bite my lip and won’t say anything.”
The Bendigo Advertiser has been unable to obtain a response as to why Bond can still coach this weekend.
Bond’s Magpies are 0-4 and in ninth position on the ladder ahead of Saturday’s clash against the undefeated Storm at Strathfieldsaye.
One of the issues for the Magpies this season has been the club regularly doubling up as many as six players from the under-18s in the seniors.
“Watching the tape from last week, we weren’t that bad against Sandhurst. The only thing that really hurt us was their spread,” Bond said.
“The hard thing is our young kids are all very skilful, but it’s the fact they are playing two games.
“The problem is we’re in a bad situation. We’re doing it to keep the under-18s going so the kids we’ve got there stay with us and we don’t have the depth in the seconds.”
With up to six young players having already played a game earlier in the day, the wearying legs of the Magpies have been evident in their second halves in their opening four games in which they have been outscored by 57, 107, 34 and 62 points after the main break.
The Magpies are -260 points in second halves, compared to -75 in the first.
Meanwhile, in other BFL tribunal news, Gisborne youngster Shannon Rooth was suspended for one match on a report of striking an “unknown” Golden Square player last Saturday.
And an investigation into an incident in the round two Loddon Valley game between Bridgewater and Bears-Lagoon Serpentine that resulted in Bears’ recruit Nathan Davidson leaving the field with a broken jaw is continuing.
