Central Murray: Balranald’s Jaxon Neagle suspended for 10 matches

A country footy league has threatened unprecedented sanctions for “untoward behaviour” after an elimination final ended in a massive ban for one player. See the latest.

The Central Murray league is prepared to take the drastic steps of suspending a finals match and dishing out fines of $5000-plus if there is a repeat of the “untoward behaviour” displayed in the elimination final between Balranald and Cohuna Kangas last Sunday.

Clubs still in the finals series were sent a strongly-worded memo by the league following a day of high drama when the final was halted for close to 30 minutes to allow an ambulance to arrive at Balranald and take a concussed Cohuna Kangas player to hospital.

Balranald’s Jaxon Neagle received a 10-match suspension for striking the Cohuna Kangas player at the tribunal on Wednesday night.

Neagle was red-carded for the incident.

His brother Jydon coaches Balranald and another brother, Matthew, played a starring role in the win against Cohuna Kangas.

Balranald won the match by eight points after trailing by 49 points at halftime.

In the aftermath, supporters of both competing teams took to social media to comment on what had transpired in the match.

“We don’t want a repeat of what happened,” Central Murray league president Donald Willox said.

“If things were serious enough again we would (suspend a match).

“Initially it was an on field incident, but then the crowd got involved from the sidelines.

“We’ve just wanted to make it clear to clubs we will be watching things very closely and for them to let their members know bad behaviour won’t be tolerated.

“You can support your club and have fun, but don’t get involved in stirring the pot and making things worse.”

The league’s response to what happened during and after the elimination final has won the public backing of at least one club.

“As a club we stand by these high standards,” Lake Boga posted on its Facebook page.

Balranald plays Nyah-Nyah West United in the first semi-final at Cohuna on Sunday with reigning premier Kerang to play Mallee Eagles on Saturday.

“It’s been a fantastic year and any one of eight clubs could have made finals,” Willox said.

“There have been a few little incidents in the last few weeks and we didn’t want to have things escalate further.”

EARLIER COVERAGE

Balranald has scored one of its most famous finals victories by charging back from 49 points and winning to stay alive in the Central Murray league premiership race.

After losing narrowly the grand final last year, Balranald was on the brink of being the first team to exit finals on Sunday when it managed only one goal to halftime in the elimination final against Cohuna Kangas.

But inspired by starring roles from Matt Neagle and Ryan Middlebrook, Balranald kicked seven goals to nil in the third term to cut the margin to six points at three quarter time.

Fittingly, Neagle put Balranald in front for the first time in the last term with his third goal of the second half.

Another late goal to Lachlan Lellmann sealed the dramatic eight-point victory.

Matthew Neagle played a starring role in Balranald’s elimination final win against Cohuna Kangas. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The match stopped for at least 25 minutes in the second quarter when a Cohuna Kangas player was badly concussed and taken to hospital by ambulance.

Balranald’s Jaxon Neagle was reported and red-carded for the incident.

Balranald will play Nyah-Nyah West United in the first semi-final on Sunday with reigning premier Kerang to play Mallee Eagles in the second semi-final the previous day.

“We just weren’t playing the way we wanted to play,” Balranald coach Jydon Neagle said.

“There were no sprays or anything like that.

“Every contest we just had to give five per cent more and eventually that would build up and the scoreboard would take care of itself.

“Even us senior boys had a terrible first half.

“We were playing into their hands.

“We don’t have the tall timber and we weren’t using our legs.

“But once we started taking the game on and taking risks, things changed.”

Balranald coach Jydon Neagle, left. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Balranald also successfully negated the impact of Cohuna Kangas star duo Jack Geary and Joel Helman after halftime.

Balranald lost ruckman Jordan Wilkins to a broken hand the previous week when Jydon Neagle resumed after a long absence with a quad injury.

Balranald had the benefit of a home ground advantage for the elimination final.

Neagle likened the crowd support to when Balranald also played at home for the second semi-final last year and downed eventual premier Kerang by 50 points.

“The crowd was insane,” he said.

“Once we got on that roll it was like having a 19th man on the field when you’ve got the whole town behind you.”

Originally published as Central Murray: Balranald’s Jaxon Neagle suspended for 10 matches