AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) advises the independent Tribunal sat tonight, Wednesday 19 December, to hear three charges from Round 11 of the senior division 2018/19 TIO NTFL games.
Men’s Premier League
Cameron Stokes, of Darwin Buffaloes Football Club, appeared before the Tribunal to answer the charge of headbutting player number 34 of the Southern Districts Football Club, in the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between Darwin Buffaloes and Southern Districts at TIO Stadium on Saturday 15 December 2018.
Stokes pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In summary, Stokes was found guilty of headbutting.
It was a view of the Tribunal that the incident should remain classified as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, and he was issued a three-match penalty.
When issuing the penalty, the Tribunal provided the following reasoning;
- The action of headbutting is serious conduct and can result in serious injury
- This is behaviour that the Tribunal consider totally unacceptable
- The Tribunal took into account all circumstances including Cameron’s exemplary record and lengthy football career
- But for Cameron’s exemplary record the penalty imposed would’ve been higher (than the 3 match suspension issued)
Men’s Division 1
Adrian McAdam, coach of Southern Districts Football Club, appeared before the Tribunal to answer the charge of behaving in an abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene manner towards or in relation to an Umpire during the fourth quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Division 1 match between Banks Bulldogs Football Club and Southern Districts at TIO Oval 2 on Saturday 15 December 2018.
McAdam pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In summary, the case against McAdam was dismissed (he was found neither guilty or not guilty) with the Tribunal stating the evidence presented was inconclusive.
Men’s Division 2
Matthew James, of PINT Football Club, appeared before the Tribunal to answer the charge of behaving in an abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene manner towards or in relation to an Umpire at the end of the second quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Division 2 match between PINT and the Nightcliff Spartans at the Marrara Cricket Ground on Sunday 16 December 2018.
James pleaded guilty to the charge.
In summary, James was issued a two-match penalty.
Should the league or any club/player/coach wish to appeal a decision from Tribunal they have until 5pm tomorrow (Thursday) to officially lodge it in accordance with the 2018 State & Territory Tribunal Guidelines.
