Northern Football League tribunal comes down hard on ugly incidents

Greensborough’s boom mid-season recruit Josh Caddy’s season could be over, while a headbutt has ended a South Morang premiership dream.

Greensborough’s boom mid-season recruit Josh Caddy’s season could be over.

The two-time Richmond premiership star was handed a two-game ban for umpire abuse by the Northern Football League tribunal on Tuesday night.

Caddy will miss the final two games of the home-and-away season against Whittlesea and Macleod.

The Borough are clinging onto fifth spot, two points ahead of challengers North Heidelberg and Round 18 opponent Macleod.

Caddy was yellow carded for a high tackle on Heidelberg’s Luke Bunker and then shown a red card as he walked to the bench during the fourth quarter of the loss at War Memorial Park.

South Morang’s Aaron Lazaric contests the ruck. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The midfield-forward would return for the elimination final – expected to be against West Preston-Lakeside – if Greensborough qualifies.

Meanwhile, it’s officially season over for South Morang’s Aaron Lazaric after being found guilty of misconduct.

The Lions big man was served a five-match ban for headbutting Laurimar’s Kaiden Arthur during a melee in the first quarter of Saturday’s fiery top-of-the-table Division 3 clash at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.

It’s set to cost him a chance at a premiership.

With only one game left in the home-and-away season and a three-week final series, Lazaric will also miss Round 1 in 2023 if South makes the grand final.

Teammate Tye Hall will serve a two-match ban for rough conduct after setting off the all-in brawl.

Hall attacked Mitch Thompson after the Power captain’s diving tackle caused Lion Nick Poursanidis’ head to his the ground, leaving him concussed.

Neither Thompson nor any Laurimar player was cited.

Northcote Park’s season went from bad to worse with two key players rubbed out for the rest of the Division 1 season.

Michael Amad and Michael Naldrett were both handed three-game bans following the Cougars loss to Hurstbridge.

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The pair were both given two-match bans for umpire abuse with an extra week added for a third yellow card of the season.

Northcote Park faces Bundoora and Heidelberg in the final fortnight needing a win to survive relegation.

It’s season over for the Bridges’ Bryce East as well after he was issued a two-match suspension for rough conduct.

Elsewhere, Whittlesea’s Taidhg Bland was serve a one-match ban after earning a third yellow card of the season in the nail-biting loss to North Heidelberg.