Border Mail |
NORTH Albury coach Jason Akermanis has slammed the level of violence in the Ovens and Murray as the Hoppers prepare to formally ask the league to investigate an alleged headbutt on midfielder Brian Durbidge.
The Hoppers will submit a written request to the league today after Wangaratta captain Matt Kelly clashed with Durbidge in the final quarter of Saturday’s thriller at Norm Minns Oval.
The off-ball incident left former Chiltern coach Durbidge on the ground with a bleeding nose.
North Albury won the match by eight points.
Akermanis, who has been left continually frustrated by the league’s off-ball niggle, finally vented his frustration following the stirring come-from-behind win over the Magpies.
“I’m not very happy at the moment with where the league is at with the violence,” Akermanis said.
“I can’t tell you how bad it looks for the league.
“We’ve got to make people accountable.
“But it works both ways.
“If my guys do it, they aren’t going to get any sympathy from me.
“You’ve got to play hard and tough, absolutely, but fair.
“The whole of the league needs to do something.”
Once the Ovens and Murray receives a written submission from the Hoppers, it will appoint an independent investigation officer to review the incident involving Durbidge.
That person will decide whether a charge could be sustained at the tribunal, should Kelly be sent there.
North Albury is not following the precedent set by Wodonga Raiders last season, who famously cited Yarrawonga star Brendan Fevola for striking midfield ace Ben Davies on a video review.
Fevola was not reported by umpires on the day last year, but was later sent to the tribunal after footage of the clash was reviewed by a panel.
Fevola was subsequently rubbed out for two weeks as a result and looked set to miss a lucrative showdown with fellow former AFL star Barry Hall at Wangaratta Rovers.
But he was freed to play at the last minute on appeal after a loophole in the O and M’s video review system was exposed.
That system has since been scrapped.
Meanwhile, Wangaratta and Lavington are still working through the racial slurs directed at gun forward James Wong nine days ago.
