WRFL: Spotswood’s Brandon Walshe given 10-game ban, Tim Jenkins banned for a week

Spotswood has hinted it could appeal a 10-game suspension to its vice-captain after he was banned for a head high hit which left his Altona opponent facing the prospect of never playing again.

A Spotswood player has been slapped with a 10-week ban for a bump which left his opponent in an induced coma and caused a game to be called off early.

Spotswood’s Brandon Walshe was suspended for his hit on Altona’s Jack Robinson during the final quarter of the Vikings’ 52-point win on Saturday night.

He pleaded guilty to the incident.

The game was called off several minutes early due to the incident with Robinson taken to hospital where he was placed in an induced coma until Sunday morning.

Match vision obtained by Leader shows Walshe hit Robinson in the head as he attempted to shepherd a Spotswood teammate as his side went forward down the outer side wing.

No match day report or card was produced during the game.

Walshe faced the WRFL tribunal on Thursday night and would next be available for selection in round 14 against Caroline Springs.

It’s understood Robinson will be unable to drive for the next six months and may not be able to play footy again.

A Spotswood Football Netball Club spokesperson said :“the and our vice-captain Brandon Walshe were saddened to hear of the injury sustained to the 24-year-old Altona footballer involved in the incident with Brandon last Saturday night at Spotswood.

“This is the first time Brandon has ever been reported in his 20 years of junior and senior football at Spotswood and he is disappointed that the collision will cause him and the Altona footballer to miss a period of football

“The Spotswood Football and Netball Club is still considering its options for an appeal and will make the WRFL aware of its decision in the allowed time.

Meanwhile, St Albans star Tim Jenkins, who pleaded not guilty, was handed a one game ban for his bump on Altona’s Jaden Rice back in round 1.

Vision shows Jenkins make head high contact with Rice during a contest at Grant Reserve.

An ambulance was also called on the day but the game was able to continue.

Rice returned to the field last weekend as Jenkins himself has not played since the incident as he remains on the sidelines with injury.

An Altona spokesperson said the club was likely to appeal the Jenkins incident as the disparity between the two suspensions was “too big”.

“We respect Tim Jenkins and his decorated contribution to the game, but we must be assessing these suspensions on the act,” they said.

“We believe that penalties set a precedent for future incidents and the one-week suspension sets an unacceptable precedent for all participating clubs and players.”

When Leader contacted the WRFL for comment it said it only shared tribunal results with clubs.

Results from the league have not been published online since 2017.