AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) advises the independent Tribunal sat tonight, Wednesday 9 January, to hear two charges from Round 12 of the 2018/19 TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League games.
Jaque Sagiba, of Tiwi Bombers Football Club, appeared before the Tribunal to answer the charge of striking player number 18 of the Palmerston Football Club in the fourth quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between the Tiwi Bombers and Palmerston at Tracy Village Oval on Sunday 6 January 2019.
After both the reporting officer and the Tiwi Bombers presented their submissions the parties and Tribunal agreed to amend the original classification from intentional conduct, low impact and high contact to careless conduct, low impact and high contact.
Upon the amendment to the charge, Sagiba was offered a one-match penalty with a reprimand as an early guilty plea, which he accepted by pleading guilty.
In summary, Sagiba was issued a reprimand.
Darryl White, of Darwin Buffaloes Football Club, appeared before the Tribunal to answer the charge of forceful front-on contact on player number 33 of the Nightcliff Football Club in the second quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between Nightcliff and Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium on Saturday 5 January 2019.
White pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Upon hearing submissions and evidence from the Nightcliff player and the umpires as well as watching the available video evidence, AFLNT sought to withdraw the charge, which the Tribunal accepted.
Reporting Officer, Thomas Moorhead said; “the preponderance of the evidence was such that the forceful contact was caused by circumstances outside the control of the player which could not reasonably be foreseen.
“The Tribunal was happy to hear evidence from the Nightcliff player that he is recovering well.”
The decision to withdraw the charge is covered under point 5.6 (d) of the 2018 State & Territory Tribunal Guidelines.
In summary, the case against White was withdrawn.
Should the League or any club/player 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.
