Dale Carroll of Ashwood FC in the Southern league to appeal his life ban from football

A SOUTHERN league star, hit with a life ban from football, will take his case to the state tribunal.

Dale Carroll, seen here marking for Ashwood, will take his case to VCAT.

A SOUTHERN league star will go to VCAT in an effort to overturn his life ban from football.

Ashwood’s Dale Carroll, 34, was last week hit with a five-match penalty for striking a Black Rock opponent, lifting his career total of suspensions to 18.

Under AFL Victoria rules players are deregistered when they reach 16 matches.

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Carroll appealed and in a hearing on Wednesday night the suspension was reduced to three weeks, still putting him over the threshold.

Black Rock had asked the league for an investigation into an incident in which an opposition player sustained a badly cut eye.

Video evidence at the first hearing showed Carroll trying to spoil the player in a marking contest.

Although the field umpire didn’t pay a free kick, the player suffered concussion, took no further part in the game and received six stitches above the eye.

Carroll pleaded not guilty.

Ashwood president Daniel Egan said this morning the club had sought another appeal with AFL Victoria.

But it had been told AFL Vic was bound by Southern bylaws and could not intervene.

Ashwood can, however, appeal Carroll’s deregistration with AFL Victoria in 12 months.

Egan said the club remained disappointed.

“We feel like we’ve been stitched right up,’’ he said.

He said Carroll was “extremely frustrated but determined … he doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong to warrant it’’.

Egan said VCAT was Ashwood’s next step.

“We will go there. We’re investigating that today in regards to costs and speaking to a couple of player advocates,’’ he said.

“It (the process) certainly isn’t as quick as an appeal would take. His season is over. We won’t get him back this year. Our goal is to get him back playing footy in Round 1 next year.’’

Carroll has booted 41 goals from 12 games this year.

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