AFL Northern Territory (AFLNT) advises the independent Tribunal sat last night, Wednesday 9 February, to hear charges from the senior grades of Round 16 of the 2021/22 TIO NTFL.
Men’s Premier League
Hayden Brown of Darwin Buffaloes Football Club appeared before the independent Tribunal to answer the charge of using insulting or obscene language towards or in relation to an umpire after the final siren of the TIO NTFL Men’s Premier League match between Wanderers and Darwin Buffaloes at Tracy Village Oval on Sunday 6 February 2022.
Pursuant to 3.8 (c) in the 2021 State and Territory Tribunal Guidelines, Brown was able to enter an early guilty plea to the charge.
Upon reviewing the evidence placed before them, the Tribunal issued Brown with a two-match penalty.
Men’s Division 1
Ben Seaton-Stewart of Waratah Football Club appeared before the independent Tribunal to answer the charge of striking #2 of St Mary’s Football Club in the second quarter of the TIO NTFL Men’s Division 1 match between Waratah and St Mary’s at Gardens Oval on Saturday 5 February 2022.
Seaton-Stewart entered a plea of not guilty to the charge which was originally classified as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
Upon reviewing the footage and the evidence placed before them, the Tribunal determined an alternative classification and amended the charge to be careless conduct, low impact and body contact.
Pursuant to 3.8 (c) in the 2021 State and Territory Tribunal Guidelines, Seaton-Stewart was able to enter an early guilty plea to the amended charge.
In summary, the independent Tribunal issued Seaton-Stewart with a reprimand.
Appeals Process
Offending clubs (alleged) and/or the Controlling Body have until 5pm tomorrow to lodge an appeal in writing to the AFLNT Football Operations team. The grounds for appeal under the 2021 State and Territory Tribunal Guidelines are as follows:
4.3 Grounds for Appeal
Except where otherwise determined by the Controlling Body, a Person found guilty of a Reportable Offence by the Tribunal, or the Controlling Body may only appeal to the Appeal Board in respect of a decision made by the Tribunal under these Guidelines on one or more of the following grounds:
(a) that there was an error of law;
(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;
(c) the classification of the level of the offence was manifestly excessive or inadequate; or
(d) that the sanction imposed was manifestly excessive or inadequate.
