AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) wishes to advise the Match Review Panel has reviewed all matches played in Finals Week 4 of the 2019/20 TIO NTFL season, and the following charges have been laid in the senior divisions.
Further, the MRP determined that as per section 5.5 of the State and Territory Tribunal Guidelines, the 100 per cent grand final loading penalty will apply to all senior charges.
The loading serves as a reminder to all players that there are standards to the game to be upheld right through to the end of the season and consequences are magnified.
Men’s Premier League
Michael Hagan, of Nightcliff Football Club, has been charged with headbutting player number 11 from St Mary’s Football Club at the end of the third quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between St Mary’s and Nightcliff at TIO Stadium on Saturday 14 March 2020.
Based on the umpire's report and the video evidence available, it was the view of the Panel that the incident should be classified as intentional conduct, medium impact and high contact, resulting in a three-match penalty. A 100 per cent loading penalty applied due to the match being a Grand Final, means the penalty increased to six matches.
In summary, Hagan can accept a five-match penalty with an early guilty plea.
Jack Long, of St Mary’s Football Club, has been charged with striking player number 12 from Nightcliff Football Club in the fourth quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between St Mary’s and Nightcliff Football Club at TIO Stadium on Saturday 14 March 2020.
Based on the umpire's report and the video evidence available, it was the view of the Panel that the incident should be classified as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact, resulting in a two-match penalty. A 100 per cent loading penalty applied due to the match being a Grand Final, means the penalty increased to four matches.
In summary, Long can accept a three-match penalty with an early guilty plea.
Ryan Smith, of St Mary’s Football Club, has been charged with using abusive, insulting or obscene language towards an umpire at the end of the fourth quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between St Mary’s and Nightcliff Football Club at TIO Stadium on Saturday 14 March 2020.
Based on the umpire's report, it was the view of the Panel that the language Smith is alleged to have used is in-line with the Auditory Offences matrix (Appendix 9) that is part of the AFLNT Rules and Regulations (2019-2020 edition) and should be classified as medium, meaning the comment could be heard 10 to 50 metres away, while the conduct was rated as abusive/obscene. This has resulted in a three-match penalty. A 100 per cent loading penalty applied due to the match being a Grand Final, means the penalty increased to six matches.
In summary, Smith can accept a five-match penalty with an early guilty plea.
Men’s Division 2
Sam McKenzie, of Waratah Football Club, has been charged with striking player number 3 from Nightcliff Football Club in the second quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Division 2 match between Waratah and Nightcliff at TIO Stadium on Saturday 14 March 2020.
Based on the umpire's report and the video evidence available, it was the view of the Panel that the incident should be classified as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact resulting in a two-match penalty. A 100 per cent loading penalty applied due to the match being a Grand Final, means the penalty increased to four matches.
In summary, McKenzie can accept a three-match penalty with an early guilty plea.
*UPDATED Wednesday 4 March*
The Tribunal will sit on April 1 to hear the charge relating to Ryan Smith.
All other players accepted the sanctions for an early guilty plea.
