Lalor midfielder Ben Curtiss facing life ban after reaching deregistration threshold

LALOR says it is “disappointed” but trying to move on after star on-baller Ben Curtiss lost an appeal against an eight-week suspension which has tipped him over the deregistration threshold.

Ben Curtiss tries to break through a tackle during last year’s grand final. Picture: Josie Hayden.

LALOR says it is “disappointed” but trying to move on after star on-baller Ben Curtiss lost an appeal against an eight-week suspension which has tipped him over the deregistration threshold.

The Bloods midfielder received an eight-week ban from the Northern Football League tribunal last week after being found guilty of striking following an incident in the club’s Round 6 win over Panton Hill.

The suspension took his career tally to 20 weeks, four more than the limit set out in the National Deregistration Policy for players and officials.

Lalor president Rod Lowry said the club unsuccessfully appealed the verdict on Monday.

“We’ve appealed it and we had no success,” Lowry said.

“He’ll be deregistered as a footballer.

“The club is devastated, but what can we do? We’ve just got to abide by the decisions that are made.”

RELATED: Mernda captain Andrew Smith banned for life after copping four-week suspension

Lowry said Curtiss could try and register again as a player for next season, with a final decision likely to rest with AFL Victoria.

“We’re really disappointed,” he said.

Former Mernda captain Andrew Smith won an appeal to play again after going over the threshold last year.

But players who are re-registered are banned for life without a right of appeal if they are found guilty of a subsequent offence, as Smith was.

For more, read next week’s Whittlesea Leader.