Glenunga’s Nick Wundke receives red card, five-week ban for severe bump on St Peter’s Old Collegians’ Will Montgomery

The Adelaide Footy League has reminded players it won’t put up with dangerous play, handing down a lengthy suspension just a week after banning three others.

Four Adelaide Footy League division one players have been suspended in the first two rounds of the 2022 season after another incident during last weekend’s play.

Glenunga’s Nick Wundke was given a five-match suspension by the tribunal on Wednesday night for a “careless and severe” bump on St Peter’s OC player Will Montgomery during Saturday’s match.

The hit, which happened late in the third term at Webb Oval, left Montgomery knocked out and saw Wundke red carded by the field umpire – resulting in 10 minutes on the sidelines.

Montgomery was concussed and later attended to by ambulance staff.

The incident comes just a week after Brighton saw three players suspended multiple games for dangerous tackling against Goodwood.

A skirmish breaks out between Glenunga and SPOC as Will Montgomery lays motionless. Picture: Dartfish TV

Wednesday night’s tribunal determined Wundke’s hit was rough and careless with high contact and severe impact.

Adelaide Footy League chief John Kernahan said dangerous incidents early in the season were not yet a cause for concern but the league would continue to hand out just suspensions if they continued.

“This isn’t new to us and isn’t our first rodeo. Every year starts the same with an over-exuberance until players remember or are reminded that we won’t put up with it,” Kernahan said.

“Relatively speaking, two incidents in a league which facilitates 130 matches a Saturday is a drop in the ocean.

“But if there aren’t 68 clubs dragging players in before we reconvene after Easter to remind them we hand out some pretty lengthy penalties for those who want to test the water on what is and isn’t acceptable, then more fool them.”

St Peter’s Old Collegians coach Geoff Riddle said Montgomery would miss quite a bit of footy. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Montgomery was left dazed and sore after the incident, and has since also tested positive for Covid, meaning he has to isolate until later this week.

SPOC coach Geoff Riddle said Montgomery would only return to action once back to 100 per cent.

“He is back home although is still not feeling that well and still sore,” Riddle said.

“He’s expected to miss quite a bit of footy but for just how long he’ll be out we need to wait and see.”

Glenunga Football Club was contacted but did not want to make comment.

St Peter’s OC managed to bounce back from the incident and pull off a narrow victory, Jake Sutcliffe booting the winning goal in the final minute.