Darwin Buffaloes, Palmerston Magpies facing fines after on field brawl

Two NTFL clubs have copped bans after an on field brawl deep into a Round 3 face-off, while a couple of players will spend multiple weeks on the sidelines. Read the latest Tribunal news.

The Palmerston Magpies and Darwin Buffaloes are facing fines following a final quarter brawl, while two men’s premier league players will spend some time on the sidelines.

Matters came to blows as it became clear Palmerston were going to achieve their first win in 20 months in the final term as both clubs took part in an extended melee.

The Buffaloes, newcomers to the Palmerston region, were charged with engaging in a melee and fined $400, which they can have reduced to $200.

Meanwhile, Palmerston were handed a heftier fine of $500, for the same melee charge, and can also reduce theirs to $250 if they make an early guilty plea.

The Darwin Buffaloes in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Celina Whan / AFLNT Media

Hayden Brown of the Darwin Buffaloes was caught up in the action and charged for striking Palmerston’s Tyson Mattiazzo during the exchange.

The strike was seen as intentional with a base sanction of a three match ban, down to two if Brown makes an early guilty plea.

He was also charged with Engaging in any other act of Misconduct, again against Mattiazzo, though was deemed a low level offence.

Tiwi Bombers’ Jacob Brown could also be spending some time out of action after being charged with engaging in rough conduct during his side’s loss to Southern Districts.

Brown is alleged to have engaged in rough conduct against Crocs’ Matthew Johnston, and was deemed to be careless.

He has been banned for three weeks, but an early guilty plea will have that period reduced to just two matches.

Originally published as Darwin Buffaloes, Palmerston Magpies facing fines after on field brawl