Montmorency star Liam Wale-Buxton’s season could be over after suspension
Montmorency and South Morang’s premiership hopes have taken major hits with the both club’s ruckmen offered season-ending suspensions.
Northern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Montmorency’s star big man and Rosbrook Medal front-runner Liam Wale-Buxton’s season could be over.
The Magpies gun has been hit with a four-game ban for striking by the Northern Football League tribunal following Saturday’s loss to West Preston-Lakeside.
Wale-Buxton was cited for an off-the-ball hit on Roosters Cam McCabe in the first quarter of the clash at Montmorency Park.
Montmorency are expected to appeal the decision.
It would be a hammer-blow to the Magpies’ NFL Division 1 premiership aspirations.
Wale-Buxton has been a key part in the club’s rise up the ladder this season after crossing from Eastern league club Vermont.
The Magpies are due to face Bundoora in a qualifying final on Saturday at Preston City Oval.
If the ban stands it would rule the ruckman out of the entire finals series.
Montmorency is already without last season’s ruckman after co-captain Stef Uzelac ruptured his ACL earlier in the season.
While the suspension could be reduced on appeal, it is unlikely to be scrapped completely.
It could see an ineligible player finish on top of the Rosbrook Medal voting given Wale-Buxton’s impressive campaign.
Elsewhere, South Morang’s ruckman Nathan Stefanile’s season could also be over.
The Lions star was given a three-match ban for striking during the NFL Division 3 qualifying final loss to Laurimar on Saturday.
Stefanile was cited for a hit on Power captain Mitch Thompson during the third quarter of the match at Whittlesea Showgrounds.
He was shown a yellow card as a result.
It’s the second time the Whittlesea premiership player has been suspended in his first season at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
It caps a poor few weeks for South Morang, which saw back-up ruckman Aaron Lazaric banned for five weeks for a headbutt in the Round 17 match against Laurimar.
Tye Hall was suspended for two matches in the same game for an altercation with Thompson.
The Lions face a sudden-death semi-final against Old Eltham Collegians on Saturday without a recognised ruckman.
DIV 3: KILMORE EXECUTES COACHING SUCCESSIONS PLAN
LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE
DIV 1: SHADES OF 2019 AS ROOSTERS CHASE HISTORY
Meanwhile, North Heidelberg’s Billy Hogan will be suspended for the first game of 2023 after being shown a yellow card against Bundoora on Saturday.
It was Hogan’s third card of the campaign, triggering an automatic one-game ban.
In the same match, Bundoora’s Matthew Morrison was cited for rough conduct and accepted a set penalty two-match sanction.
The Bulls will be without co-captain Luke Collins for the qualifying final against Montmorency as he serves the second week of a two-game ban for umpire abuse.
Ranked: The ex-AFL players who lit up local footy this year
From the bush to the ‘burbs, former AFL players thrilled local football crowds across all corners of the state this year. We’ve named the best – and ranked the top 15. See who heads the list.
Delisted Don tops local footy’s most wanted list
A recently delisted Essendon key position player is expected to field plenty of offers from local footy clubs while a premiership Magpie is attracting interest after a move to Melbourne. Here are all the latest whispers from around the leagues.