By Jon Pierik and Hannah Kennelly
In today’s AFL briefing:
- Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell appeared in the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
- Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has confirmed Finn Maginness’ season is over.
- Collingwood’s Beau McCreery has suffered another hamstring injury.
Disgraced former AFL umpire Troy Pannell has had his driver’s licence suspended for six months and could escape criminal conviction.
Pannell, appearing via video link before magistrate Michael Wighton at the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to a series of charges, including stealing a car and twice failing to stop for police.
Former AFL umpire Troy Pannell.Credit: Sebastian Costanzo
He pleaded guilty to having stolen a white Hyundai Tucson valued at $45,000, and an Apple iPhone13 and Microsoft laptop on May 12 from his employer. The car and the two items were suspected by police of being the proceeds of crime.
He had also failed to stop for police in the Murray River town of Cobram on May 30, and again in the western Victorian town of Wheatsheaf on June 8.
Wighton took into consideration that Pannell, 49, had already been in custody for 48 days.
“In relation to all of the charges, given your lack of prior criminal history, and the time that you have served in custody, whilst the court could impose a financial penalty, instead I am simply going to adjourn these charges for a period of six months,” Wighton said.
“I am going to ask you to make a promise to the court to be on good behaviour for that period of time. If you don’t breach that promise, these charges will stand as dismissed by the court. There won’t be a conviction recorded.”
Pannell thanked Wighton, his only comment during the hearing, where his mental health deterioration was outlined.
These charges are unrelated to his $8.7 million fraud saga involving his former employer, SeaRoad Shipping, before the Victorian Supreme Court.
Pannell had been involved in an accident on the Daylesford and Malmsbury Road near Wheatsheaf on June 8. His van ran off the road and hit a tree after he had failed to stop for Victoria Police, who were trying to enforce a warrant for his arrest for contempt of court. No other vehicle was involved in the crash.
The court heard on Wednesday that Pannell, a father of two daughters from two different relationships, had driven through Victoria, NSW and South Australia, while on the run for months over an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud. He had retraced sites he had visited when growing up, and later with his current family.
Pannell, the court was told, had been “preparing to say goodbye”, having had suicidal thoughts which had led him to write goodbye letters to his family. When asked, in earlier discussions, by his lawyer whether the collision with a tree had been an accident, Pannell replied: “The only accident was I didn’t take my seatbelt off”.
He received treatment at The Alfred hospital but was arrested by police on Sunday, June 15, for theft and driving offences.
On Tuesday, Pannell appeared in the Supreme Court over contempt of court charges.
He apologised to the court for missing two previous appearances, revealing his mental health had declined. He has been in the Fulham Prison in Sale since his arrest last month.
SeaRoad Shipping’s barrister, Jonathan B. Davis, told the Supreme Court it should take major action against Pannell, demanding he be forced to serve time for each of the contempt of court charges of which he has been found guilty, rather than be allowed to serve them concurrently.
Davis said Pannell was “thumbing his nose at the court” when he had failed to front the court, having also failed to file a defence to SeaRoad’s claim.
The case before Justice Andrew Watson continues.
Pannell officiated 291 AFL games from 2005 to 2018 — including a contentious 2016 match where he awarded 17 free kicks to the Western Bulldogs during a game against the Adelaide Crows.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Maginness out for season with ‘scary’ kidney injury
Hannah Kennelly
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell has confirmed Finn Maginness’ season is over, after the midfielder seriously injured his kidney in last weekend’s win over Port Adelaide.
Maginness reported abdominal pain after the club’s victory against Port Adelaide last Saturday and was taken to Launceston General Hospital before being flown to Hobart overnight for a procedure to repair the laceration.
On Wednesday, Mitchell said Maginness’ condition had improved, but the injury was “a bit of a scary one”.
Finn Maginness with coach Sam Mitchell after the win against Port.Credit: AFL Photos
“He’s feeling supported but feeling pretty ordinary, so unfortunately it means his season is going to be over from an on-field sense,” Mitchell said.
“That’s probably at the back of our minds at the moment. At the front is making sure he can get back to full health.”
Maginness’ parents are in Hobart with their son, who Mitchell said was feeling “a bit worse for wear”.
“I think our medical team have done a great job in making sure that firstly he stayed,” he said. “We probably got a bit lucky that Scott and Anna were there, his parents, and Anna has been by his side the whole time.”
The Hawks had previously flagged that Maginness was likely to spend time in Hobart before he was able to return to Melbourne.
“Finn’s health is clearly our No.1 priority, and right now, the most important thing is that Finn is OK, is in the right place and he will recover fully,” club doctor Liam West said on Sunday.
Fellow Hawks midfielder Will Day has been cleared to play Carlton on Thursday, after recovering from a stress fracture in his foot.
However, Mitchell was unsure if forward Mabior Chol, who has battled a groin injury, would play. “We’re leaning towards not playing him and giving him another week,” he said. “That’s not 100 per cent confirmed but I suspect it will be another one.”
Hamstring injury sidelines Magpie star
Hannah Kennelly
Collingwood’s Beau McCreery will miss the next few games, after suffering another hamstring injury during last week’s clash against Fremantle.
McCreery played in Sunday’s narrow one-point loss to the Dockers on Sunday; however, he reported feeling sore after the game.
“Scans have confirmed that McCreery has sustained a minor hamstring strain,” the club said in a statement on Wednesday. “McCreery is expected to miss two to three weeks.”
It’s unwelcome news for the 24-year-old who missed three games after straining his hamstring against St Kilda in June.
But star midfielder Jordan De Goey is a chance to make his return against Richmond on Sunday at the MCG.
De Goey has resumed full training after exiting concussion protocols and is listed as a “test” for the Tigers clash.
The explosive goal-kicker had previously battled Achilles inflammation, which had sidelined him since the start of May.
De Goey has played just five games this season, but could yet play a key part in Collingwood’s premiership push.
The ladder leaders are on a two-match losing skid, which has resulted in their lead being cut to two competition points, but will start hot favourites against third-from-bottom Richmond.
Key defender Billy Frampton has returned to full fitness and his availability will be assessed.
With AAP
If you or anyone you know needs support call Lifeline 131 114, or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.