Pat Cronin Foundation speaks out against off ball EDFL hit

The father of a teenager killed by a coward punch has expressed his anger after video emerged of a behind-the-play incident in local footy. See the footage.

A prominent anti-violence group has criticised a Melbourne suburban football league after vision emerged of a “very disturbing” behind-the-play incident.

Footage of the incident from the Essendon District Football League (EDFL) Division 2 senior game between Rupertswood and Coburg Districts on May 10 has circulated online in recent days.

The video appears to show a Coburg Districts player, striking an opponent off the ball.

Several sources have told this masthead that the offending player received a six-match suspension at the EDFL tribunal for the hit.

The victim has not returned to the field since he was struck.

The grainy footage, which is understood to have been captured by CCTV cameras at Salesian College Sunbury where Rupertswood plays, was uploaded on to an anonymous Instagram account this week and circulated among the football community and online forums.

It was also sent to the Pat Cronin Foundation, an anti-violence lobby group founded after the death of 19-year-old Melbourne man Pat Cronin from a coward punch in 2016.

Pat Cronin Foundation director Matt Cronin said work was continuing to prevent these types of incidents.

“We have been made aware of a very disturbing incident on the football field in a match in the EDFL, who are a partner of the Pat Cronin Foundation,” he said.

“We understand the (player) who threw the punch was suspended for just six weeks. If this incident happened anywhere but on the football field he would have faced criminal charges.

“A question we would ask is why isn’t he facing criminal charges and the consequences that come with a criminal conviction.

“We understand that the victim has some ongoing issues so we send out our best wishes to him and hope that he fully recovers as quickly as possible.

“The EDFL have been strong supporters of the Pat Cronin Foundation and we have had a positive conversation with them on how we can continue to work with them to prevent future incidents from happening.”

When approached for comment on the incident, AFL Victoria said tribunal matters and their outcomes were managed by their leagues.

Coburg Districts, Rupertswood and the EDFL were all contacted for comment.

Salesian College Sunbury was also contacted for comment.

A week before the incident, the EDFL took part in a record Pat Cronin Foundation round which saw seven leagues across the state honour Pat.

Every player wore yellow armbands — the official colour of the foundation — to mark a stand against all forms of violence.