Edwardstown Football Club not ruling out legal action over incident which left player with broken jaw

A SUBURBAN football club has not ruled out taking legal action over an on-field incident which has left one of its players eating liquid food and unable to work.

EDWARDSTOWN Football Club has not ruled out taking legal action over an on-field incident which has left one of its players eating liquid food and unable to work.

A Southern Football League (SFL) investigation committee this week suspended Happy Valley captain Scott McKenzie for five matches for striking Edwardstown wingman Matthew Hearn.

The incident, which left Hearn with a broken jaw, occurred off the ball in the opening minutes of the league's first semi-final at Christies Beach on September 7.

Edwardstown president John Shaw said the club would appeal the suspension in the hope of securing tougher penalties against McKenzie.

He said pursuing legal action against McKenzie was "not off the table" but he would not elaborate.

He said Hearn was eating liquid food and was on leave from his job as a physiotherapy tutor because of the injury.

"We'll be looking for a right to appeal," Shaw said.

"We as a club feel the penalty is grossly inadequate.

"I know what we'd like to have seen to make it worthwhile ... but I don't know if it's a good thing to print."

Shaw said the club presented witnesses, photographs of Hearn's injuries and medical reports to the committee to support its case.

Shaw said Hearn, a member of the SFL's Team of the Year, was "enraged by the inadequate penalty".

Happy Valley president Wayne Hasel said his club would challenge any potential appeal.

Hasel said McKenzie was on holiday and was unavailable for comment.

"I've known Scott for a long, long time and he's a tough, hard footballer," Hasel said.

"In my opinion what he's done is a split-second error in judgment.

"I'm devastated for the young guy with the broken jaw.
"The tribunal has made the decision ... and hopefully we'll move on."

SFL president Craig Warman, who was not on the investigation committee, would not comment on the case.

SANFL community football general manager Glen Rosser, who oversees suburban football leagues, did not know the details of the incident.

He said, as a general rule, any aggrieved players should take further action.

"If an individual believes he has been assaulted off the ball then he should refer that as an assault charge to police," Rosser said.

"We do not condone any assaults or striking off the ball at all."

Brighton player Will Rivers this month received a six-game ban for unduly rough conduct against Edwardstown's Thomas Renzi in the SFL elimination final on September 1.

Renzi also suffered a broken jaw but Shaw said the club was satisfied with the penalty handed down to Rivers.