MPFNL 2019: Delay in Pines coach Paddy Swayn’s appeal against a seven-match suspension

Pines has called in Ian “Fingers’’ Findlay to represent premiership coach Paddy Swayn at an AFL Victoria appeal hearing after the respected mentor was hit with a seven-game ban for umpire abuse.

Pines coach Paddy Swayn. Picture: James Ross/AAP

For Pines coach Paddy Swayn, it’s a waiting game.

His appeal against a seven-match suspension for abusing an umpire cannot be heard until next Thursday owing to a backlog of cases being handled by AFL Victoria.

It means Swayn cannot coach Pines on Saturday in the MPFNL Division 1 match against Bonbeach at Eric Bell Reserve.

Forwards coach Simon Bishop will take over for the day, and reserves coach Glenn Cornell will serve as a senior assistant.

There have been suggestions Swayn can coach from behind the fence. But while he’s unclear on what functions he can perform during his suspension, he said he would not go into the rooms before the game or at half time.

Instead he will stand on the other side of the ground and take notes.

MORE LOCAL FOOTY NEWS

DONCASTER CALLS FOR ‘COMMON SENSE’ TO RESERVES

ROSS THE RIGHT MAN FOR GLENROY

DOGS GET THE BOOT FROM SUBURBAN FOOTY

RESERVOIR COACH RESPONDS TO SHOCK AXING

WRFL COACH BASHED IN UGLY POST-MATCH CARPARK CLASH

“The positive is, it’s an opportunity for ‘Bish’ (Bishop) to dip his toe into the water and for the club to rally together and show it’s not all about one bloke,’’ Swayn said.

“We’ll be fine.’’

It will be the first time since 2000 that he has had no match-day role as a coach, assistant coach or been in charge of the interchange bench.

Pines has called in former leading AFL player advocate Iain “Fingers’’ Findlay to represent him at the hearing at the Marvel Stadium.

The club remains stunned at the seven-match verdict, which, if it stands, will prevent him from coaching the club until the second week of the finals.

Swayn was reported during a melee-filled match against Edithvale-Aspendale two weeks ago.

At the tribunal last Wednesday night he pleaded not guilty to “abusing, threatening, insulting or using obscene language’’ towards an umpire.

The tribunal found him guilty and suspended him for seven games.

It said it took into account his impeccable record as an MPNFL coach and his standing in the community.

Paddy Swayn took Pines to last year’s MPFNL premiership. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Swayn said he was offered a two-match suspension immediately after the match but he chose to challenge the report, adamant he had not abused the field umpire.

His said his evidence and the evidence of the umpire was “a million miles apart’’.

“I sort of knew I was in a bit of trouble then … they were not the words that came out of my mouth,’’ Swayn said.

It’s believed Pines will call witnesses at the appeal hearing to support Swayn’s version of events.

“To get it overturned would be ideal … seven weeks is a long, long time,’’ he said.

“I’d struggle with that. I’d just like what I would call a fair and proper hearing and to get to the truth. I went in with the best intentions…’’

Swayn said he had been overwhelmed by the support he had received, particularly from other MPNFL coaches.

“They’ve been fantastic, the opposition coaches,’’ he said.

“They haven’t phoned to say, ‘What’s going on, what’s going on?’. They’ve just checked in to see how I’m travelling. As competitive as we are with each other, we’re all comrades, I suppose. We’re all doing the same thing and there are only 10 of us, so we can understand and sympathise with each other.’’

WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO

— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.

— Unprecedented AFL coverage.

— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.

— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.

— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.