Uni Blues: VAFA gun Sam Grimley handed two-game suspension

The best player in a VAFA side striving to escape relegation has been suspended, leaving his side in danger of dropping a division.

University Blues have suffered a major blow to their hopes of escaping relegation after their league-leading goalkicker Sam Grimley was handed a two-match suspension for striking at the VAFA tribunal on Tuesday.

Grimley, who kicked a big bag of nine goals in his side’s 71-point win over Old Trinity on Saturday was red carded in the third quarter and spent time off the field before returning in the fourth.

Uni Blues coach Guy Martyn, who didn’t see the incident said Grimley had his back to the opponent.

“From all reports Grim swung his arm/body to shrug off the defender who was all over him as he was trying to lead,” Martyn said.

“He had his eyes on the ball and back to his opponent.

“Seemed to get him a bit high though and without any footage, there was no real possibility of contesting the charge.”

Grimley was on an AFL list with Hawthorn for five years before joining Essendon for a year in 2016.

The Uni Blues forward has kicked 56 goals for the club this season and leads the competition, 19 clear of the second leading goalkicker.

Grimley will miss games against Collegians and Caulfield in the next two weeks before returning for the last round against Old Xaverians.

A win for the Blues in their remaining three matches will be vital in holding a spot outside the bottom two relegation zone.