Southern league 2019: Luke James one of three players suspended under new MRP system

Three players, including Murrumbeena star Luke James, have been suspended under the Southern league’s new AFL-style MRP system.

Suspended: Murrumbeena champion Luke James.

Murrumbeena champion Luke James has become one of three players suspended under the Southern Football Netball League’s new match review panel (MRP) system.

James last night copped a three-match ban over a forearm strike on Keysborough ruckman Bryce Sutton during the second quarter of last Saturday’s season-opening Division 2 clash at Keysborough.

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He was sent directly to the tribunal after the MRP viewed footage of the clash.

James pleaded not guilty to intentionally or carelessly striking Sutton but was found guilty by the independent tribunal.

It was only the second time in his long and decorated career that he had been suspended.

All Southern league senior matches are being filmed this season and any incidents referred to the league are passed on to the panel on Monday mornings.

The MRP nabbed two other players.

Heatherton’s Mark Stevens was cited for engaging in rough conduct against Patrick Morrissey of Chelsea Heights in the third quarter of the Division 2 senior clash at Beazley Reserve.

He accepted a one-match set penalty.

Heights player Michael O’Driscoll was picked up by the MRP for “intentionally or carelessly striking’’ Heatherton’s Jayden Arter in the fourth quarter.

The panel offered O’Driscoll a set-penalty of two matches. But he contested the charge at the tribunal, was found guilty and barred for four games.

Christian Middleton of St Kilda City was reported for “using abusive, insulting or obscene language towards or in relation to an umpire’’ in the second quarter of the Division 1 senior match against Port Melbourne Colts at Murphy Reserve last Friday.

He pleaded guilty at the tribunal and was rubbed out for two matches.

Southern officials are keen to crack down on discipline this year after a rough-house 2018 season.

A string of serious on-field incidents blighted the league, with one senior match called off before halftime.

Lyndale even took the extraordinary step of forfeiting its finals two games of the season.

“It’s what the new system is designed to do,’’ Southern CEO Lee Hartman said this morning.

“In previous years three of these four (incidents) would not have been picked up.

“We’re here to make sure we are providing a safe playing environment for all participants.

“If players want to step out of line they will be picked up.’’

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