Geelong Advertiser |
LARA has lodged paperwork with AFL Barwon, seeking an investigation into an off-ball incident against South Barwon on Saturday in which a teenager was knocked unconscious.
Cats president Gerard Evans said the club owed it to the injured player, Liam Phillips, and his family to pursue the case.
“There was an incident away from play which deserves investigation,” Evans told the Geelong Advertiser.
“I hope we can understand what happened and the appropriate actions are taken.”
Lara has requested AFL Barwon takes a close look at an incident which occurred about the 24-minute mark of the first term of the senior match against South Barwon at McDonald Reserve.
Evans said Phillips, a colts-listed player, was running 40 metres off the ball alongside his Swans opponent when the teenager was ``knocked out’’.
Phillips went to ground and was groggy and disorientated when trainers from both clubs reached him. He was then stretchered from the field and took no further part in the game, which South Barwon won by 71 points.
“As a club we’re very concerned about this incident,” Evans said.
“We don’t want any player 40 metres off the ball taken out of the game.”
Evans said Phillips had been identified by the Lara coaches in preseason as a future leader at the club.
His participation in senior football is part of the Cats’ youth policy, to build the side for years to come.
“We’ve got a young player, who is still a colt, experiencing his first year of senior footy,” Evans said.
“He missed three quarters of the game on Saturday and he’s likely to miss this weekend as well.
“We owe it to him and the family to seek an investigation.”
Evans, who thanked South Barwon for its support on Saturday, recognised the matter was isolated and not in line with the Swans’ culture.
“This is not a crack at South Barwon,” he said.
“The most important thing is for Liam to be back feeling good and playing footy again.”
AFL Barwon will appoint an investigation officer to examine the case and determine whether it should be heard before an independent tribunal.
