Ryan Gibson and Pat Richards of South Barwon have suspensions slashed at GCA tribunal

After being ‘put through the ringer’ as two of its key players got banned earlier in the week, the Swans want change.

Pat Richards and Ryan Gibson have had their bans reduced at the GCA tribunal.

South Barwon will sit down with the Geelong Cricket Association in an attempt to amend the association’s suspension process after the Swans were “put through the ringer” this week.

Ryan Gibson has been suspended. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Swans president Simon Breuer has called for an overhaul of the suspension system after all-rounder Ryan Gibson copped 10 games and captain Pat Richards a two match ban at a GCA men’s committee meeting on Sunday, only for those to be dramatically reduced by a GCA tribunal on Wednesday.

Richards will be free to play this Saturday and Gibson will serve three matches.

The original suspensions were decided thanks to Law 42, a worldwide cricket ruling that designated levels of offences that was applied by the GCA before this season.

Breuer said it was unfair his players didn’t receive a “fair trial” before the initial suspensions were decided and he questioned a possible “conflict of interest” on Grovedale captain-coach Jordan Moran, who sits on the GCA men’s committee.

South Barwon president Simon Breuer. picture: Glenn Ferguson

“There are a lot of learning from both the GCA and what they need to go back to the drawing board over and for us about player behaviour,” Breuer said.

“Clubs shouldn’t be put through the ringer like we were this week and it needs to be a fair trial and there can’t be any conflict of interest. It needs to be a black and white process without any greyness on it.

“The stress and pressure that has affected the club this week has been beyond belief.

“I just don’t think we want other clubs to go through what we went through.”

Breuer and GCA president Rob Vines have spoken since the tribunal hearing and agreed to meet to talk through the disciplinary process.

GCA president Rob Vines. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Vines dismissed any conflict of interest over Moran’s place on the committee.

“We don’t believe there is a conflict of interest,” Vines said.

“When you appoint people to positions of responsibility, you expect them to rise above their bias and discharge their duties effectively.

“I am confident that every member of that committee has done that.”

Breuer also questioned the fairness of handing out suspensions off video evidence when limited games are filmed each week.

Swans consider further action on Richards sentence

South Barwon is considering taking further action to remove a suspended sentence hanging over captain Pat Richards, while the club has accepted a reduced ban for import Ryan Gibson as a “par result”.

Pat Richards from South Barwon Picture: Mark Wilson

Gibson was initially given a 10-game ban for two separate incidents in a loss to North Geelong on Saturday and his penalty was reduced to three games, plus four matches as a suspended sentence, at a Geelong Cricket Association tribunal hearing on Wednesday.

Richards had his penalty of a two game ban, with a further four weeks suspended, reduced to a two-match suspended sentence.

He was given the original suspension as an automatic ban for a player acting poorly under his watch as captain.

The suspended sentences are in place for the remainder of this season.

South Barwon president Simon Breuer said the club would sit down with Richards to decide whether to keep fighting to clear his name.

“It is unfair on Pat because his behaviour was spot on,” Breuer said.

“Pat is disappointed because that is a guilty verdict hanging over his head when he has done nothing.

“It’s disappointing and I feel for him and we will support him in what he needs to do and decides to do.”

MORE: SOUTH BARWON LASES GCA FOR MASSIVE SUSPENSIONS

All-rounder Gibson will miss matches against Newtown & Chilwell, Highton and Grovedale.

Breuer said the club accepted Gibson was out of line when he stepped into the path of North Geelong bat Ned Cooper and connected with a shoulder-to-shoulder bump but his deliberate celebration in the face of Magpie Casey Meehan didn’t warrant suspension.

GCA president Rob Vines said the tribunal downgraded Gibson’s actions on the Cooper contact to a level two offence under cricket’s Law 42, a worldwide cricket rule dealing with misconduct.

A level two offence includes “making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with another player”.

The celebration after capturing Meehan’s wicket - in which Gibson roared in the Magpie’s face - was deemed a level on offence, Vines said.

Ryan Gibson will be sidelined for three matches. picture: Glenn Ferguson

“(Three weeks is) a par result, we think Gibbo’s stupidity probably should have got something and we were thinking two or three weeks was about it for the brush of (Cooper) and the other one should have been thrown out and it was,” Breuer said.

Gibson has apologised to the South Barwon committee, leadership group and the playing group.

The Englishman has a reputation in GCA circles for his fiery nature but Breuer said he had overstepped the mark in the North Geelong game.

“He is bloody remorseful, he is incredibly embarrassed,” Breuer said.

“We know he is a firey unit, that is partly why we love him at the club and in the team but blind Freddie could see his overstepped the line a bit.”

Originally published as Ryan Gibson and Pat Richards of South Barwon have suspensions slashed at GCA tribunal