NORTH Bendigo coach Damien Lock knows his football career is now on thin ice following his latest suspension.
Lock was suspended for five matches by the Heathcote District Football League tribunal on Wednesday night on a report of striking White Hills' Jason Clark during the Bulldogs' elimination final loss to the Demons on August 28.

Lock pleaded guilty to the report.

A second report of an abusive language charge was thrown out.

With the five-match ban for striking Clark, it lifts Lock's total tally of suspensions through his career to 14 games.

Under AFL Victoria rules, once a player reaches a total of 16 matches worth of suspensions, they will be deregistered.

"I'm definitely on thin ice now," Lock said yesterday.

"If I get another suspension then I'll have no choice, I'll give it away.

"I know I've got to learn to control myself better.

"It (five matches) is a big whack, but I suppose they looked at my tribunal record and had to give me a harsher penalty."

Lock's 14 matches worth of suspensions take in six reports dating back to the 2007 HDFL grand final when he was coaching Colbinabbin.

"Footy has been my No.1 passion in my life and I'll be doing my best to stay out of trouble from here," Lock said.

Lock, 32, was reported and yellow-carded during the third quarter of the elimination final.

The game was in the balance at the time, before White Hills went on to win by 11 points.

"I've taken what happened really hard and this is the suspension that has hurt me the most in my career," Lock said.

"I'd had a good year in terms of not getting in trouble, and as a coach you can't afford to.

"But the past couple of weeks have really hurt me, and I believe being sent off for that 15 minutes cost the club a finals victory.

"The game may have turned after that incident, and in going down by 11 points, I hold myself fully responsible for it.

"The club has been good enough to give me another opportunity to coach and I'd like to think I can repay them next year. Hopefully, I can keep my discipline in check next year."

North Bendigo president Jamie Campbell said the Bulldogs would speak with the umpires about Lock next year before his return to the field.

"We'd like them to keep a close eye on him because we don't want him getting any undue treatment that could force him into doing something he shouldn't."

By Luke West

Article first appeared the Bendigo Advertiser, Sept 9, 2011