Palm Beach-Currumbin Aussie rules player Jesse Derrick sorry for infamous sling tackle on opponent

GOLD Coast aussie rules player Jesse Derrick was rubbed out of the upcoming QAFL grand final for an infamous sling tackle. But he’s back in the game, saying he’s sorry and has reached out to his injured opponent.

JESSE Derrick says if he could take back his now infamous sling tackle on Broadbeach player Robert Blood he would, revealing he has reached out to his injured opponent.

Palm Beach-Currumbin star Derrick also spoke of his relief at being cleared to play in the this weekend’s QAFL grand final.

Derrick will lead the Lions against defending champions Labrador in the season finale at Wally Fankhauser Reserve on Saturday. And a remorseful Derrick said he wished that he could turn back the clock to events at Salk Oval on September 2 when he sling-tackled Blood.

Blood was knocked out in the tackle which led Derrick to a series of tribunal hearings, suspensions, appeals and finally the green light to play.

Palm Beach-Currumbin’s Jesse Derrick. Photo: Glenn Hampson

“I am very happy because it has been a crazy couple of weeks,” Derrick said.

Derrick was given a three-match suspension, reduced to two if he pleaded guilty.

PBC appealed that on the grounds of Derrick’s immaculate record and the penalty was reduced to one match.

Broadbeach then appealed that ruling, claiming it was “manifestly inadequate” because of the seriousness of Blood’s injuries and an independent panel reinstated the three-match suspension.

PBC then threatened Supreme Court action which led to AFL Queensland reverting the penalty back to one week.

Footage of Derrick’s tackle on Robert Blood. Photo: Supplied

Official word from AFLQ was: “On Friday, September 15, AFL Queensland received an originating application from Mullins Lawyers who indicated that they intended to file an application before the Supreme Court of Queensland on behalf of Jesse Derrick.

“Upon receiving the originating application, AFLQ sought advice from the AFL Legal Department and engaged an independent legal practitioner. The advice received by the independent legal practitioner stated that AFLQ would have minimal prospects of successfully defending the application.”

Derrick admitted the whole saga had been difficult.

Palm Beach-Currumbin star Jesse Derrick. Photo: Richard Gosling

“One week I was playing, the next week I wasn’t playing,” Derrick said.

“By last weekend I had it in my head I wasn’t playing. I spoke to the group after the appeal verdict (three-matches) and said it wasn’t about me now it’s more about the club and that we didn’t want it to become a distraction.”

Derrick said he messaged Blood on Facebook but did not receive a reply.

“You don’t like seeing players getting hurt and this has been ongoing and it makes me feel awful,” Derrick said.

“I’m glad he’s getting well, that’s first and foremost. At the end of the day if I could take it back I would, but I can’t, it happened so fast. It was an unfortunate accident and I’m sorry he got hurt.”