EFL 2019: East Ringwood runner Cameron Crowley suspended for two games

East Ringwood runner Cameron Crowley has been suspended for two games for umpire abuse following a free kick for “coaching” in the Roos’ Division 1 clash against Mooroolbark.

A free kick was paid against East Ringwood runner Cameron Crowley for coaching.

East Ringwood says it is “flabbergasted” and remains “quite confused” after runner Cameron Crowley was penalised for “coaching” last Saturday.

The umpire paid a free kick in the final minutes of the Roos’ Division 1 clash against Mooroolbark and can be heard saying in vision of the incident that the infringement was “against the runner for coaching”.

The free kick was paid at a stoppage in Mooroolbark’s forward 50m, where Paul Hager took the shot and kicked what proved to be the matchwinning point. The Mustangs held on to score an 8.11 (59) to 8.10 (58) win.

Crowley was suspended for two games at the EFL tribunal on Tuesday night for “using abusive, insulting or obscene language towards or in relation to an umpire”.

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The report was made for an incident after the game.

Crowley could be heard in the vision delivering instructions to East Ringwood players with scores level at 58 apiece.

East Ringwood football manager Simon Moore said Crowley was outside the boundary line when the free kick was paid.

“The coach said he didn’t want a spare, so everyone had to man up and that’s all he said,” Moore said.

“He just said, ‘man up, we don’t want a spare’ and that’s when the decision was made.

“He was just hovering there rather than being on the ground. It was on the edge of the boundary.”

East Ringwood has this week sought clarification from the EFL about the decision.

Moore said the club had ruled out an appeal.

“We just want to understand for future reference,” he said.

“We don’t blame the umpire for the loss, we blame our second quarter kicking 2.6 and not taking our opportunities.

“We’re more trying to get an understanding going forward. We’re not really there to challenge the decision that may have cost us the game.

“We’re quite confused based on the other umpiring groups we’ve had up until now.”

The EFL recently issued a reminder of the role of runners in its weekly newsletter.

“A further reminder that a runner is to deliver his/her message and vacate the playing surface directly,” it stated.

“The runner should make every effort to remove themselves from the ground as promptly as possible.”

The win ensured Mooroolbark remained two premiership points clear of relegation and left East Ringwood with a 3-6 record, equal with Knox and Upper Ferntree Gully.

Moore said Crowley’s two-week penalty was “fair”.

“There was no swearing or anything in that regard, it was just that really he made comment to the umpire and that was it,” he said.

“We don’t condone that behaviour and our runner was very remorseful and I think the runner could see that.”

The EFL was contacted for comment.

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