AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) wishes to advise it received notification from the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club that it will appeal the penalty handed to Matt Campbell at last night's Tribunal.
Campbell contested the charge of engaging in rough conduct against player number 3 of the St Mary’s Football Club in the third quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between St Mary’s and Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium on Friday 25 January 2019.
On reviewing the available footage and hearing the evidence provided, the Tribunal found Campbell guilty of intentional conduct, low impact and high contact and issued him with a three-match suspension.
The Darwin Buffaloes lodged an appeal by the deadline and in accordance with the 2018 State & Territory Tribunal Guidelines.
They are appealing under section 4.3, subpoints:
(a) that there was an error of law; and
(b) that the decision was so unreasonable that no Tribunal acting reasonably could have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it; and
(c) the classification of the level of the offence was manifestly excessive or inadequate
At this stage, the Appeal Board will sit 7pm next Monday 4 February 2019.
It should be noted that under AFL Regulations, rule 16.1 Ineligible to Play if Suspended or Disqualified;
“Subject to Regulations 16.3 and 16.5, a person who is suspended or disqualified by the Commission, the Tribunal, the Appeal Board or any other League, Association or body affiliated to or recognised as being competent by the AFL, as a result of committing a Reportable Offence or otherwise, shall not play with any Club or hold any office or act in any capacity for a Club until such suspension or disqualification has expired or has been removed by the body which imposed it.”
In summary, Campbell will not be allowed access to the playing surface or the coach's box this weekend pending the outcome of the Appeal.
Due to the appeal process now being active, AFLNT cannot make further comment until the Appeal Board meets and since the player was found guilty he is ineligible to play until the matter is completed.
