Woodville-West Torrens trio fined by SANFL for social media posts
WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens has copped more punishment from the SANFL over the 19th man preliminary final controversy, with two more players and a board member sanctioned for their social media posts as the fallout from the saga continues.
- Eagles ruckman cops three-match ban for 19th man rant
- North Adelaide fined, docked points for 19th man saga
- ‘Rematch most appropriate penalty but not in powers’
- Ruckman returns for semi-final
- North beats Norwood for slice of SANFL history
WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens has copped more punishment from the SANFL as the fallout from the controversial 19th man saga continues.
Having failed in their appeal to have the questionable five-point preliminary final loss to North Adelaide overturned, the Eagles also had ruckman Seb Guilhaus banned for three matches next season after he took aim at the league and umpires in an explosive tirade on Facebook, accusing them of cheating.
Now, board member Sean Connors and two of Guilhaus’s teammates, Nick Hayes and Joe Sinor, have been handed fines for derogatory comments they made on social media following the preliminary final fiasco when the Roosters had 19 players on the field for three minutes at the start of the final quarter.
All the comments have since been removed.
Connors was fined $1250, key forward Hayes $750 and half-back Sinor $500.
Both Hayes and Sinor’s penalties have been suspended.
The Eagles are still furious over the SANFL’s handling of the 19th man controversy and have a compensation claim before their lawyers.
But president Kurt Slaven said each party charged by the SANFL for bringing the game into disrepute had accepted the league’s findings.
“There are rules in place in regards to social media and holding positions of authority and Sean, who is a volunteer, unfortunately bridged that and the SANFL have done what they've done,’’ Slaven said.
“It’s the same with the players, so we cop it and move on.’’
North was docked four 2019 premiership season points and fined $10,000 for fielding a 19th player but was cleared to play in the grand final, where it sensationally upset hot favourite Norwood by 19 points.
Guilhaus was hit with the biggest individual fine after he took to Facebook just hours after the preliminary final to express his disgust at how the result unfolded.
“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,’’ he wrote.
“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!”
An independent tribunal later allowed the preliminary final result to stand.
andrew.capel@news.com.au