The Northern Tasmanian Football Association tribunal had handed three players a combined 13 weeks suspension for a melee that broke out between Longford and Bridgenorth on the weekend.
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The round 13 fracas took place in the third quarter at Longford Oval with Tigers midfielder Brad Totter copping a four-match penalty for striking Parrots coach Patrick Mackrell.
Mackrell will sit out two weeks for a strike in retaliation, while Parotts ruckman Darren Long has been ruled out for seven games for a hit on Trotter, who was yellow carded by the umpire after the ruckus.
The blow reportedly concussed Trotter, who has been forced to take this week off work.
All incidents were caught on video and a medical certificate from Trotter was presented to the independent tribunal on Monday night.
Long will miss the remaining five home-and-away matches this season and will have an extended pre-season heading into 2018.
NTFA president Paul Reynolds said the tribunal had done its job.
“On the evidence there were clearly some serious breaches of our expectations of fair play along with the tribunal's and society's expectations,” Reynolds said.
On the evidence there was clearly some serious breaches of our expectations of fair play along with the tribunal's and society's expectations.
- NTFA president Paul Reynolds
“Some of the players may have had some history, which has called for additional penalty.
“My understanding is that the tribunal rook a very dim view of one of the hits and it was reflected in the penalty that they gave and that was to send a clear message that this is just not tolerated.”
It is not the first hefty penalty the tribunal dished out this year with Scottsdale’s Neil Oliver sentenced to a six-week spell for striking.
Reynolds agreed that there was a national push to stamp out “this sort of behaviour”, which was demonstrated by the well-published case involving former AFL diversity chief Ali Fahour earlier this month.
Fahour was suspended for 14 weeks and charged by police after punching an opponent unconscious in a suburban Victorian league match.
“The other thing is that it is appropriate [to stamp out this sort of behaviour],” Reynolds said.
“This is a spectacle and it should be entertainment.That component of it is neither entertainment, nor does it provide a safe environment for our participants.
“And we don’t want to be sending the wrong message that this kind of behaviour is appropriate to our young people, both boys and girls that are looking at playing AFL football.
“It is just not an acceptable practice.”
Longford and Bridgenorth football clubs were contacted but both decided not to comment.
Corey Martin
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
Having started at The Examiner as a cadet in 2009, I have held various positions telling the stories of Northern Tasmanians in sport and news. I was appointed deputy editor in 2019 and became editor in September 2021.
