Eagles ruckman Seb Guilhaus cops three-match SANFL ban for bringing the game into disrepute
WOODVILLE-West Torrens ruckman Seb Guilhaus has paid a heavy price for his comments on social media following the 19th man SANFL preliminary final fiasco against North Adelaide.
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WOODVILLE-West Torrens ruckman Seb Guilhaus has paid a heavy price for his comments on social media following the 19th man SANFL preliminary final fiasco against North Adelaide.
Guilhaus was on Wednesday night suspended for three matches after a SANFL Tribunal hearing at Adelaide Oval after he criticised the league’s integrity and the umpiring.
The 30-year-old was charged with bringing the game into disrepute following comments he made on Facebook after the Eagles’ controversial five-point loss to eventual premier the Roosters last month.
He was furious after North, which beat hot favourite Norwood in the grand final a week later, had 19 players on the field for three minutes at the start of the final quarter.
Guilhaus pleaded guilty to the charge, which was heard before SANFL Tribunal panel chairman Ian White.
Guilhaus, who deleted his derogatory remarks hours after posting them, wrote: “For a period of time during today’s game, North Adelaide had 19 men on the field and during that time they scored 8 points … we lost by 5 points.
“Furthermore the free kick count was 30 to North and 17 to Eagles … the combination of the ‘19 man cheat’ and the rigged umpiring is a clear sign that the SANFL wanted North to get through in order to maximise grand final attendance as Woodville-West Torrens has a much smaller support base.
“For the SANFL not to correct the ruling of victory is an absolute unfathomable disgrace … the sway of finances has trumped the basic rules of the great game which so many hold dear.
“There are literally no words … please share this post as many times as possible … there are lawyers looking at the fine print as we speak!”
Eagles chief executive Luke Powell instructed Guilhaus to remove his post.
“Social media can sometimes cause a lot of trouble and it wasn’t great from that particular player — he was advised to take that post down,” Powell said at the time.
An independent tribunal allowed the preliminary final result to stand, although North was fined $10,000 and docked four 2019 premiership points.
Guilhaus’ three-match penalty means he will be ineligible to play SANFL or in any SANFL affiliated league at the start of the 2019 season.
andrew.capel@news.com.au