EFL Division 3: Waverley Blues Matt Perry’s ban upheld on appeal, could miss grand final

The EFL Division 3 flag favourite has learnt the fate of its co-captain and key forward at a tribunal appeal on the eve of the finals. LATEST HERE.

IT is a hammer-blow for the Waverley Blues on the eve of the finals.

The Eastern league Division 3 minor premier could be without co-captain Matt Perry for the rest of the season after learning the key forward’s fate at a tribunal hearing last night.

Perry was initially rubbed out for two matches by the Eastern league tribunal on August 9 following an incident against Donvale in the club’s Round 17 match.

The club appealed to free its spearhead for the finals – but the last-ditch effort fell flat with the ban upheld on Wednesday night.

Matt Perry could miss the remainder of the season following a failed appeal. Picture: George Salpigtidis

It’s understood Perry laid a shepherd on an opponent, leaving him concussed.

No free kick was paid at the time nor was a report or card issued.

Perry was later charged by the match review officer and pleaded guilty to ‘intentionally or carelessly engaging in rough conduct against an opponent’.

The Blues were fixtured a bye last week in Round 18 meaning half of Perry’s suspension couldn’t be served in the final weekend of the home-and-away season.

A two-match ban means Perry would miss the grand final should the Blues defeat Warrandyte in this weekend’s second semi-final.

If the Blues lose this weekend, Perry would be available to return for a grand final with the club forced to a three-week series, should it win through the following weekend.

Perry, who has kicked 39 goals from 11 matches this season, has been an integral member of a Blues outfit which has won 15 matches in a row.

Club president Stephen Pewtress expressed disappointment at the outcome.

“As a club we’re incredibly disappointed in the result,” Pewtress said.

“We feel that it was a football incident but we respect that there’s a duty of care when a player is concussed.

“It was play-on at the time, the goal stood, of which Matthew had contributed in by way of a shepherd on an opposing player.

“(The vision) shows that his shoulder’s hit his chest, the Donvale chasing player had squatted at the knees which led to the shoulder coming up to the head area.

“We accept that, he (Perry) pleaded guilty … but we think there’s mitigating circumstances.”

Pewtress said the suspension was a “cruel blow” to Perry who had an “unblemished record” across several seasons of senior football.

“We think it’s grossly unfair, we think the suspension was manifestly excessive and unreasonable,” he said.

“Seven years of an unblemished senior record has stood for nothing – captain of our club, fantastic player and a wonderful man from a character perspective – we don’t think any of that was taken into consideration.”

The Blues’ president believes the club’s fixtured last-round bye should have been taken into account by the tribunal when handing down the ban.

“100 per cent they should have ... to have a bye where I would suggest through an administration position we’ve got a match review situation, 100 per cent that should have been taken into account,” he said.

“I reiterate, from where we come from in club-land, one week (suspension) in the home-and-away is one week, one week in finals is the equivalent of two.

“So in our opinion, Matthew Perry effectively copped a four-week suspension for a shepherd, a football act, a hip-and-shoulder. Zero leniency, zero consideration towards a fine young man’s football career and a club that’s chasing glory this year.”

Perry has kicked 39 goals this season. Picture: Steve Tanner

Pewtress said the club would support Perry as it hunts its first premiership since 2008.

“Absolutely as a club we’ve got around him and absolutely we’ll throw our arms around him.”

The Waverley Blues play Warrandyte in the second semi-final on Saturday, August 20, at Ringwood’s Jubilee Park.