Shepp News |
Two Benalla Football Club officials yesterday accused a Shepparton Swans reserves player for instigating the all-in brawl which led to the premature end of their clash on Saturday.
Saints president Bruce Biggs and reserves co-coach Jeff Kunkel said the Swan’s involvement in two unrelated incidents with different Benalla teenagers in the fourth quarter were central to the melee breaking out.
Goulburn Valley Football Umpires’ Association no longer provides umpires for reserves games due to lack of numbers, so the Swans — as the home team — provided a club representative to officiate the match.
But the two central umpires from the senior game entered the field to help the Swans’ representative break up the melee and subsequently call an early end to the contest.
The umpire made no reports.
Goulburn Valley Football League general manager Keith Wellman, who was at the match at the time, said Biggs wrote an email asking which team received the four points for winning the game.
The Swans were 16 points up at the time, with about six minutes left in the match.
‘‘Benalla has asked the question and the league, as a board, will be looking at it and seeking advice from a higher authority,’’ Wellman said in regards to Biggs’ question.
Biggs said the umpire had ‘‘lost total control of the game’’ and agreed with the decision to end the contest early, but Swans president Kevin Preece was disappointed the match did not finish.
‘‘There were six minutes to go and I thought the group were breaking up when the senior umpire ended it,’’ Preece said.
‘‘There were only six minutes left, so they could have kept going, but, having said that, I fully support the umpires in their decision.
‘‘We will definitely review the situation and I can’t comment on what actions will come out of that.
‘‘We’ve got to let natural justice run its course, but we don’t condone that sort of thing, won’t be supporting it and it’s something we won’t tolerate.’’
Preece addressed the playing group post-game and said the message was ‘‘as a club, that’s not what we’re looking for’’.
Biggs also said he did not condone his players becoming involved in an all-in brawl.
He said his club’s officials would not request any further action be taken at league level, on the proviso the Swans dealt with it internally.
‘‘What happens with young kids going down, somewhere along the line, any clubs’ players will come in and fly the flag a bit,’’ Biggs said.
‘‘I didn’t like seeing everyone involved, but it just erupted everywhere and both senior umpires came on and got involved.
‘‘I’ve sent Keith an email to say Kevin (Preece) handled the situation well and our understanding was the player was going to be disciplined.’’
Biggs said the situation could have been avoided if a second umpire was officiating the reserves match.
Kunkel said the umpire should have sent the Swans player off after the first incident.
‘‘We have a very experienced umpire who does our home games and we had a guy there who is a very good umpire and could have supported that umpire,’’ Biggs said.
‘‘Maybe we all have to provide umpires in the seconds.’’
Wellman said league rules stated only the home club had to provide an umpire at reserves level, but visiting clubs were encouraged to provide a second umpire.
He also said league officials would inquire with the parties involved, but could not launch an investigation without a club official requesting one.
Biggs, Kunkel and Preece said they offered their full support to the umpire involved and all umpires.
