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NEWTOWN & Chilwell has lashed the AFL Barwon tribunal after star ruckman Renn Bogan was slapped with a four match ban tonight.
Bogan was handed the ban for making front on contact with Grovedale’s Ryan McKenzie during the last quarter of their clash on Saturday.
Bogan, a former Tiger, was also given a further two game ban suspended until the end of the season.
In a short statement after the hearing Eagles player advocate Peter Landers slammed the tribunal for their decision.
“It’s a shame our players have to wear shorts. They should be wearing dresses,” Landers said.
Tribunal chairman Phil Swindells labelled the contact as “clumsy, lazy and reckless” when handing out the suspension.
He said head high contact was something that has got to “be stamped out of the game”.
“(It’s) extremely lucky player McKenzie didn’t suffer more serious injury,” Swindells said.
Video presented to the tribunal showed Bogan’s legs making high contact with McKenzie after he bent over to pick up the ball.
Bogan pleaded not guilty to the charge and told the tribunal he was aiming for McKenzie’s side and not his head.
McKenzie said he felt the contact was about a three out of 10 and he suffered no injury from the contact.
“I didn’t see it coming, but it wasn’t overly hard,” McKenzie said, adding he felt contact to his left neck and shoulder.
“It wasn’t as if the impact dazed me. I was up between two or three seconds (after the contact).
Umpire Steven McDonald issued the report and handed Bogan a yellow card for the bump during the game and said he had an unimpeded view of the incident.
Bogan said he only had eyes on winning the ball “at all costs” and was “surprised” he was even reported.
Landers argued that Bogan is a “clumsy” player and that contact was accidental.
MEANWHILE, Colac has been handed a significant blow with star midfielder Joe Dare given a two match suspension for headbutting South Barwon’s Jason Kerby.
He had another two match ban suspended until the end of the season.
Dare was handed a straight red card by umpire Aaron McGlade after he clashed with Kerby in the third quarter of their match on Saturday.
Dare, a decorated footballer from the Colac region, told the tribunal he wasn’t aware he made contact with Kerby’s head during the incident and thought the South Barwon player was trying to earn himself a freekick.
Moments before, the players were scuffling on the ground and then got to their feet.
McGlade told the tribunal Dare and Kerby were pulling at each others jumpers before the Colac player made a forward motion, making contact with Kerby’s head.
Both Kerby and McGlade rated the contact as a three out of 10, with the Swan adding he didn’t suffer any injuries or concussion from the clash.
Dare’s advocate Bill Saunders argued that there was head contact between the two players, but not enough to warrant a headbutting charge.
The star Tiger said he didn’t want the stigma of being known as a headbutter against his name.
“I’ve never done it and I don’t want to try it,” he said.
“You don’t want to be reported for anything . Headbutting is not part of AFL.”
Swindells urged Dare to continue with his distinguished career despite the “unsavoury” report on his record.
