AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) advises the independent Tribunal sat last night, Wednesday 9 November, to hear charges from the senior grades of Round 6 of the 2022/23 TIO NTFL.
Men’s Premier League
John Vrodos of Darwin Buffaloes Football Club appeared before the independent Tribunal to answer the charge of intentionally bumping or making forceful contact to an opponent from front on when that opponent had their head over the football, namely #23 of Palmerston Magpies in the third quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between Palmerston Magpies and Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium on Saturday 5 November 2022.
Upon reviewing the footage and the evidence placed before them, the Tribunal determined an alternative classification and amended the charge to be careless conduct, high impact, and high contact, reducing the charge to a three-match penalty.
Pursuant to 25.4.a (vi) in the National Community Football Policy Handbook, Vrodos was able to enter an early guilty plea to the charge.
The Tribunal issued Vrodos with a two-match penalty.
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Jonathan Farrar of Palmerston Magpies Football Club appeared before the independent Tribunal to answer the charge of unreasonable or unnecessary contract with an umpire in the third quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between Palmerston Magpies and Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium on Saturday 5 November 2022.
Based on the evidence available, it was the view of the MRP that the incident is a low level offence and was heard separately to Farrar’s secondary charge.
Farrar, entered an early guilty plea to the charge and the independent tribunal issued Farrar a reprimand.
Farrar, also appeared before the independent Tribunal to answer the charge of head butting or making contact with another person with their head, namely #24 of Darwin Buffaloes Football Club in the third quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between Palmerston Magpies and Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium on Saturday 5 November 2022.
Based on the evidence available, it was the view of the MRP that the incident should be classified as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
It was the view of the Tribunal that the incident should remain classified as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact and issued Farrar with two-match penalty, with one-match wholly suspended.
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Keiren Andrew of Waratah Football Club appeared before the independent Tribunal to answer the charge of bumping or making forceful contact with an opponent from front-on when that player has their head down over the football; namely #27 of Tiwi Bombers Football Club in the first quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between Tiwi Bombers and Waratah at Gardens Oval on Saturday 5 November 2022.
Upon reviewing the footage and the evidence placed before them, the independent Tribunal determined an alternative classification and amended the charge to be careless conduct, medium impact, and high contact, reducing the charge in a two-match penalty.
The independent Tribunal found Andrew guilty and pursuant to 25.4.a (iv) in the National Community Football Policy Handbook issued Andrew with a one-match penalty.
Appeals Process
Offending clubs (alleged) and/or the Controlling Body have until 5pm tomorrow to lodge an appeal in writing to the AFLNT Football Operations team. The grounds for appeal under the National Community Football Policy Handbook are as follows:
26.1 (b) (i) Grounds for appeal
Except where the Controlling Body determines otherwise, a Person or Controlling Body (Appellant) may appeal to the Appeal Board in respect of a decision made by a Controlling Body under Section 4.1(c) or 23.3(c) or the Tribunal under Section 25 on one or more of the following grounds:
(A) the decision involved an error of law;
(B) the decision was so unreasonable that no Controlling Body or Tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it;
(C) the classification of the Reportable Offence or Policy Breach or other conduct (as applicable) was manifestly excessive or inadequate; or
(D) that the sanction imposed was manifestly excessive or inadequate, (each, an Appeal Ground)
