SFNL: Dingley footballer Jake Mullen set to be deregistered after receiving five-week suspension

A suburban Melbourne footballer is facing deregistration after copping a huge ban for striking a fan, while another player in the same division has been handed a four-week ban.

The incident occurred in the Southern league Division 1 match.

A suburban Melbourne footballer has been handed a lengthy ban after he was found guilty of striking a heckling spectator.

Veteran Dingley forward Jake Mullen fronted the Southern league tribunal following the incident which occurred during Saturday’s round one grand final rematch against Cheltenham at Jack Barker Oval.

Mullen has been slapped with a five-week ban after he was found guilty of striking.

It is understood Mullen had been subjected to heckling from opposition supporters before the incident occurred.

The ruling also means Mullen has now reached 18 weeks of total suspensions across his career, and he will face deregistration as a result.

Under the AFL’s “national player and official deregistration policy’’, players have their registration withdrawn when they hit 16 weeks.

Mullen will be eligible to appeal the deregistration 12 months after the conclusion of his five-week suspension period.

A younger Jake Mullen in action for Dingley. Picture: Sarah Matray.

This masthead reported in 2022 that Mullen had been set to face an indefinite ban after he received a three-week suspension for rough conduct, which had also triggered a two-week suspended sentence from 2021 in the AFL Outer East. The suspensions were overturned at the time after a successful appeal.

Mullen kicked three goals in Dingley’s surprise 61-point victory over Cheltenham and is a decorated player.

He returned to Dingley this season after a stint with Noble Park in the Eastern league’s top division, and has represented Southern in interleague.

The Southern league has been contacted for comment.

Dingley declined to comment.

Elsewhere in Division 1, Murrumbeena has been dealt a blow with promising young small forward Dareo Rogers suspended for four weeks.

Rogers was charged with striking after an incident with East Brighton’s Tom Bracher in the Lions’ 53-point round one loss.

Rogers represented Southern in interleague last season, and his absence will be a further blow to a Murrumbeena side already missing a handful of key players through injury.

“Dareo’s a really big role model for our kids at our footy club and we respect and support Dareo,” Murrumbeena coach Michael Kinsella said.

“We know he makes mistakes but he’s a 21-year-old young man, we really just want to help him learn from this. He’s very remorseful and wanting to do everything he can to earn everyone’s respect and trust.”

Murrumbeena will host Bentleigh, who are fresh off a strong round one performance against St Paul’s McKinnon, at Murrumbeena Park this Saturday afternoon.