Adelaide Footy League moves to put an end to vile on-field violence

The Adelaide Footy League has sent a warning to its clubs after two vile off-ball punches caught on camera have marred the past two rounds of local action. See the videos here.

The Adelaide Footy League has warned it will not hold back in punishing vile acts of on-field violence after two big hits in the past two rounds of action.

A Portland player could cop a big suspension for an off-ball punch caught on camera against Mitcham over the weekend, just one week after a West Croydon player was handed a five-game ban for a punch during a contest against Woodville South.

The incident happened well off of the ball during the round 12 division four affair and will be taken to tribunal this week.

Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan said there was no place for any acts of violence on the field.

“The league has never swayed from its very unambiguous position that incidents that were once commonplace now have no place in the game in general let alone in the Adelaide Footy League,” Kernahan said.

“Our tribunal reference manual states that a suspension of up to 10 matches can be given out for these acts though any tribunal also retains a discretion to increase or decrease on a case-by-case consideration.

“The league tribunal, while independent, will always remain open to mitigating circumstances of a player’s history within the league – whether it is one with no tribunal appearances, or a colourful one – when assessing any matter but the former will only provide a suspended component if any at all.”

While Kernahan and the Adelaide Footy Leaguie had been disappointed by the recent on-field incidents, he said the number of vile acts had dropped significantly in recent years.

Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan has warned there is no place in the competition for on-field violence. Picture: Emma Brasier

“The days of an off the ball charge are few and far between as a result of some pretty heavy lifting of standards by our member clubs over the last decade,” he said.

“When we consider we have 150 matches with up to nearly 7,000 players involved, to be able to refer to a distinct drop in all breaches is a testimony to our clubs and by extension their players, coaches and members.”

The punishment for the weekend’s hit is set to be determined by Thursday.