Geelong Advertiser |
LEOPOLD will return to the AFL Barwon tribunal on Wednesday night after star recruit Tom Ruggles became the first player booked by the league’s new match review panel.
Ruggles was reported off the video for striking after an incident during the first quarter of his side’s season-opening win over Bell Park last Saturday.
His report came in the wake of the one-match ban handed to teammate Jye Cross on Monday night for making contact with an umpire.
Torquay’s Matthew Johnston was also cited by the MRP yesterday and will have to answer a charge of making forceful front-on contact from his side’s match against Geelong Amateur.
Leopold yesterday confirmed it would not appeal the sanction handed down to Cross, who also has a suspended three-match ban hanging over his head.
Lions football manager David Dowd said the club decided to accept the penalty after consulting with player advocate Iain Findlay.
“While we are not happy with the charge being sustained, we will accept (it),” Dowd told the Geelong Advertiser yesterday.
“(After) weighing up the pros and cons of an appeal the club has decided to accept the penalty.”
Cross was red-carded and reported during his debut for Leopold when he ran into the backwards-moving umpire Peter Elliot.
Reporting umpire Brendan Beveridge said the ball had been kicked towards the centre square when the incident occurred.
He said Cross was following an opponent when he collided with Elliot and both went to ground.
Elliot, who was officiating his 200th senior game, said he found himself about 15m from the contest and was back-pedalling to be the preferred 20m away when he felt “heavy” contact from behind.
“It rocked me,” he said.
“I believe I was hit hard.”
Elliot suffered a corked calf and hamstring as well as back soreness and was still walking with a limp at the hearing.
Both umpires said players had a duty of care to protect umpires but agreed the incident was not intentional.
Cross, a former Geelong Falcon, said he was “up and about” for the first game of the season at his new club.
Playing at half-back, he said he was running at full tilt behind his leading opponent and was going for a spoil when he was “cleaned up”.
He said it was only after hearing the whistle and looking up to see Elliot floored that he realised who the collision was with.
“I was committed to the contest,” Cross said.
“I would assume the umpire wouldn’t be near the ball.
“It was an accident.”
Findlay argued Elliot was caught in the wrong position and the incident was nothing more than an accident in a passage of play.
He said the umpires’ yellow shirts also clashed with Leopold’s green and yellow jumper.
The independent tribunal heard Cross was of good character, having previously played at the Falcons and Bannockburn. He had no prior record of any untoward behaviour on the football field.
However, tribunal chairman Phil Swindells and panel members Peter Lewis and Ian Knell sustained the charge.
EARLIER
The goal kicking machine was reported during Saturday’s round one match against Portarlington for making high contact with Demon Stephen Hicks.
But the independent tribunal found the clash was a misguided bump, made to look more serious due to the height difference between the players.
The tribunal heard the contact was made late in the third term after Hovey missed a snap on goal from close range.
Reporting umpire Ryan Danaher, who was officiating his first senior match, said Hovey then used a raised forearm to strike Hicks to the neck.
However, both Hovey and Hicks said the incident occurred when they were moving back to position for the kick-in.
Hovey said he engaged in a bump with Hicks, who was blocking his way.
“There was no malice,” Hovey said.
While Hicks hit the deck and was down for about three seconds, he said he bounced back up and required no medical attention.
“I don’t reckon it was that serious, it’s just football,” Hicks said.
Tribunal chairman Phil Swindells encouraged Hovey to try a different way of getting around players in the future.
Hovey said he looked forward to playing against Torquay this weekend.
Portarlington will be fined for not having correct documentation available to make the report.
The report was made on the match report sheet, with no record of the reporting umpire or signature.
