Tea Tree Gully’s Ryan Spittle receives eight-week ban from Adelaide Footy League for striking

AN ADELAIDE footballer has been handed an eight-match suspension for striking after vision of the incident was captured on video. [Watch it here]

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VIDEO evidence has led to a Tea Tree Gully footballer receiving an eight-game ban for striking.

The Adelaide Footy League last week found Ryan Spittle guilty of making “intentional” and “high” contact with Goodwood Saints player Simon Brooks during their match at Goodwood Oval on April 21.

Umpires did not report Spittle on the day but Goodwood officials later informed the league about the incident after seeing it while watching a replay of the game.

The match was one of 10 the league filmed that weekend having increased its video presence at games this season.

A still of the video used as evidence to suspend Ryan Spittle (right).

League chief executive John Kernahan would not comment about the incident.

But he said the purpose of filming games was to promote the competition and increased scrutiny on player behaviour was an added benefit.

“If the collateral damage is The Adelaide Footy League picks up a few blokes who have otherwise been flying under the radar, then it will serve a purpose there too,” Kernahan said.

“We’re hoping the added presence of video will act as a platform for greater awareness of what is expected rather than a vehicle to penalise someone.

“We can’t guarantee someone won’t step outside the rules but we can guarantee if we catch them, their future in our competition will be short-lived.”

Brooks had no memory of being struck and missed Goodwood’s game on Saturday because of concussion.

Goodwood’s Simon Brooks. Photo: Tom Huntley.

Goodwood president Craig Scott said the incident would never have come to light if the match was not filmed.

“We saw Brooksy on the ground and just assumed it was a bump or something because no players remonstrated — and that was the unusual thing,” Scott said.

“Last year that would have gone completely under the radar and luckily because of the video you can now pick that sort of stuff up.

“Aside from that incident, the game was played in an absolutely fantastic spirit and we’ve always had a really good association with Tea Tree Gully.

“I just think the bloke has had a brain fade to be honest.”

Tea Tree Gully chose not to appeal the suspension.

Spittle also received a yellow card during the match for a sling tackle.

Ryan Spittle seen receiving a yellow-card from an umpire earlier in the match against Goodwood. Picture: AAP/Morgan Sette.

The club’s football director Marcello Buccini said the ban was out of character for Spittle, who had never previously been suspended by the league and was remorseful.

“He (Spittle) has been pretty distraught about the whole thing and how it has panned out,” Buccini said.

“He plays his footy hard but he’s a really fair player ... (and) a fantastic kid.

“We respectfully accept the tribunal’s penalty and we’re moving on and just concentrating on playing good footy for the rest of the year.”

Spittle will not be able to take the field until round 11 on June 30 — coincidently against Goodwood.