Three local footy tribunals have handed out big bans for umpire abuse

An under-19s player has been hit with a 10-week ban as tribunals in multiple local footy leagues come down hard on umpire abuse.

Umpire abuse brings big bans. Picture: Stephen Harman

A 10-week ban has been handed out as multiple local footy tribunals crack down on umpire abuse.

The Essendon District, Northern and Eastern leagues all made significant stands against umpire abuse stemming from the weekend’s games.

West Preston-Lakeside under-19s player Connor Harris was hit with the biggest suspension.

The Northern Football League tribunal offered a 10-week penalty, one of the biggest penalties handed down in suburban football this season.

Harris will miss the rest of 2022 and part of 2023 after being charged following the Roosters 2 Under-19 Division 2 match against Lower Plenty.

Umpire abuse was not tolerated at local footy tribunals.

It’s the second time a Roosters 2 player has been sanctioned for umpire abuse after Jonathan Koullinos was hit with three games earlier this season.

Fitzroy Stars’ Dewan Mackin was handed a six-week penalty for umpire abuse stemming from the Division 2 reserve grade match against Thomastown.

South Morang big man Nathan Stefanile will miss the top-of-the-table blockbuster against Laurimar after being offered a two-match ban for striking, while Panton Hill’s Oliver Parks copped the same punishment.

Meanwhile, two players were also suspended for incidents involving umpires in the Essendon District.

Greenvale senior player Matthew Condo was given a three game ban for “intentionally, recklessly or negligently (making) contact with or striking an umpire”.

Adam Atik from the Northern Saints was handed a three-game ban for “behaving in an abusive, insulting, threatening, or obscene manner towards or in relation to an umpire”.

His suspension is likely to carry into 2023 with just one round left to play on the Thirds competition.

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Strathmore’s Andrew Gallucci was handed a two-game ban of his own for “bumping or making forceful contact” with an opponent from front on when their head was over the football.

In the Eastern league’s Division 3-4 Under-19s, Coldstream’s Spencer Woods was handed a three-match ban for behaving in an “abusive, threatening, insulting or obscene manner to a match official”.

Woods was found guilty of the charge at the tribunal on Tuesday night.

Mooroolbark women’s footballer Grace Baba was handed a two-match suspension for “intentionally making contact with or striking an umpire”.