Tribunal result – April 4 2018
BUPA TASMANIAN STATE LEAGUE
Round One
Jordon Roberts (Lauderdale) was referred for rough conduct (dangerous tackle) on Wade Wall (Clarence)
The Match Review Panel determined that the tackle was careless, with low impact to the body. The Match Review Panel also gave strong consideration for the potential to cause serious injury.
Player Roberts was offered a base sanction of two matches, reduced to one match with an early guilty plea. Player Roberts’ base sanction included a one-match loading due to a poor record.
Player Roberts rejected the offer and the matter was heard at the Tribunal on Wednesday 4th April 2018 at 6:00 pm.
At this evening’s TSL Tribunal Hearing, Lauderdale’s Jordan Roberts entered a not guilty plea to the charge.
The tribunal considered a number of factors presented by Roberts’ advocate which included:
· Player Wall’s evidence described the action as ‘lifted me up off the ground’
· Player Wall sustained no injury from the incident and played out the game
· Player Roberts argued that the tackle was not a dangerous tackle and was more of asling motion and the action was more of a roll than a lift motion.
· Player Roberts also raised the fact the incident occurred at speed and there was a difference in the height of the two players.
· Player Roberts argued there was no malice or intent to injure within the tackle
· Player Roberts’ did acknowledge the smarter option was probably to carrel him and not tackle player Wall.
· Player Roberts’ advocate was also granted permission by the TSL tribunal chairman to show vision of a similar incident from the 2017 round 18 AFL match between Isaac Heeney (Sydney Swans) and Jarryn Geary (St Kilda), where Heeney was not cited by the AFL match review panel.
In considering a verdict, the Tribunal took into account the inherent dangerous nature of the tackle and the potential to cause serious injury.
In providing a sanction, the Tribunal found that Player Wall had disposed the ball prior to impact and the action was considered a dangerous tackle in the circumstances – which included lifting Player Wall off the ground.
As per the Tribunal guidelines:
· the tackle is of an inherently dangerous kind, such as a spear tackle or a tackle where a Player is lifted off the ground;
· the Player being tackled is in a vulnerable position (for example their arms are pinned) with little opportunity to protect himself; or
· an opponent is slung, driven or rotated into the ground with excessive force.
The Tribunal took into account the similarities of the Heeney incident but felt there were two points of difference in the fact Player Wall had disposed of the ball, whereas Geary was in possession of the ball and Player Geary contributed to the action by jumping off the ground.
After considering all of the evidence including the points above, Player Roberts was found guilty and the incident assessed as careless, to the body and with low impact.
SANCTION: TWO MATCHES
Lauderdale FC has until 5 pm tomorrow (05/04/2018) to decide if they will appeal the decision to the TSL Appeals board.
