Last night the AFLNT Appeals Board granted Darryl Whites application for re-registration subject to completion of the Re-Offender Prevention Plan submitted to the Appeals Board by Darryl White and St Mary’s Football Club.
White had been de-registered as his one match ban for striking an opponent in an NTFL game played on December 17th 2011 led to him exceeding the 15 week threshold applicable to the De-Registration Policy adhered to by AFLNT.
On January 5th 2012 St Mary’s Football Club and White himself advised the appeals board that he intended to challenge his de-registration.
The appeals board convened a number of times and requested detailed information from a number of States that had enforced the De-Registration Policy.
The Appeals Board also requested and received submissions from AFLNT, Darryl White and St Mary’s Football Club and the AFL players association.
Darryl White was given additional time to provide personal references and to provide an oral statement to the Appeals Board in person.
Darryl White and St Mary’s Football Club made clear in their correspondence with the appeals board that the policy itself was fully supported by the club and Darryl White and no challenge was being made to its validity or application rather the Application for Re-Registration was being made on the basis that there were exceptional circumstances relating to Darryl White which should persuade the board that he should be allowed re-registration.
After further consultation with other states the board advised St Mary’s Football Club and Darryl White on the 13th of January that a further submission in support of the re-registration application was required and that the submission should detail a ‘Re-Offending Prevention Plan,’ the core elements of which are considered to be steps taken to prevent reoffending.
On 17th of January the appeals board received the required plan from St Mary’s Football Club which detailed the following undertakings by the club and Darryl White to commit to:
1) Participation in an Indigenous Umpire Development Program to be conducted by the AFLNT Umpiring Department.
2) Participation in the St Mary’s Football Club junior program in a mentoring role.
3) Working with the NT Under 18 side in a mentoring role
4) Working with the AFL Players Association in the AFL Indigenous player education and transition support programs.
The submission also specifically noted that it is accepted that De-registration would occur if the proposed Re-offending Prevention Plan is not fully completed.
In making a determination of the Application for Re-Registration the board considered a broad range of submissions including a number of personal and professional referees advocating on behalf of Darryl White.
The board noted that despite the impressive references and other information received from Darryl White that the case was a ‘borderline’ one which required balanced consideration of a long and successful football career with an unfortunate and consistent pattern of undisciplined behavior to which the De-registration policy specifically applies.
The board granted Re-registration by noting that there were exceptional circumstances in the case taking into account that Darryl White is highly regarded inside and outside football having played for more then 20 years and 600 games, has never set out to physically attack or injure other players, expressed embarrassment and remorse as a result of the automatic de-registration and he indicated a genuine commitment to the Re-Offending Prevention Plan.
When granting the application the Appeals Board recommended to AFLNT that Darryl White’s re-registration be conditional upon completion of the Re-Offender Prevention Plan as undertaken by him and St Mary’s Football Club.
Darryl White will be Re-registered however should he be suspended again he will be De-registered with no further opportunity to appeal.