SANFL bans 13-year-old Salisbury North footballer for 13 matches for punching an opponent in junior game
A SALISBURY North footballer has received a 13-week ban for punching an opponent during a SANFL junior game.
A SALISBURY North footballer has received a 13-week ban for punching an opponent during a SANFL junior game.
The league’s tribunal last night found the 13-year-old Salisbury North player guilty of making “high contact” with a Hope Valley footballer during an under-14 division one north match at Salisbury North Oval on Sunday.
The Advertiser was told the game was called off and the 13-year-old victim was taken to Modbury Hospital.
He was cleared of any serious injuries.
Salisbury North was kicked out of the Adelaide Footy League’s senior competitions in June after a string of on-field indiscretions, including a five-game striking ban for Alex Stengle.
The SANFL did not hand out any penalties to Salisbury North.
“The welfare of the players involved is a priority and we are continuing to liaise with both clubs to offer support throughout the process,” the SANFL said in a statement.
“The SANFL has a strict code of conduct for each of its competitions, including juniors, which are fully supported and enforced by clubs”.
Salisbury North junior football director Kerry Coutlakis said the club accepted the penalty and would not appeal.
“We don’t condone any actions like that by any player,” Coutlakis said.
“The actions of one player doesn’t represent the club.
“We will stand by the games he got and will try to work with him to educate him to be better.”
The Salisbury North player can resume once he serves his ban.
The Adelaide Footy League kicks out players who are suspended for more than 12 games in total.
But the SANFL does not have a degeristration policy for players in its junior competitions below under-16.
Hope Valley president Darrel Van Der Haak said the club was “satisfied with the outcome and greatly appreciated the efforts of the SANFL junior association for their support”.
Van Der Haak said members were also “happy with the process undertaken”.
The victim’s parents did not want to comment.
The ban is not the largest the SANFL has handed out since taking over junior competitions in 2016.
That year, a Rosewater under-16 player was suspended for 22 weeks for kicking a 15-year-old Seaton opponent and for misconduct during a melee in a Metro West grand final.