Leading VFL coach Justin Plapp in hot water for alleged umpire abuse

Leading VFL coach Justin Plapp and his club, Williamstown, have received a please-explain order over his alleged comments towards the umpires in Round 1.

Justin Plapp is into his fifth season as Williamstown senior coach. Picture: AAP/ Chris Eastman

A leading VFL coach faces suspension over an alleged outburst towards the umpires last Saturday.

The AFL is investigating Williamstown’s Justin Plapp over his conduct in the Round 1 match against Essendon at The Hangar.

CODE Sports understands the AFL has asked Plapp and his club for a please-explain into alleged comments directed towards the umpires in the third quarter.

With no coaches’ boxes at the ground, Plapp was coaching from the boundary.

The former Richmond and St Kilda forward was placed on a suspended sentence after a verbal clash with a Werribee player in 2023.

Later that year he was ticked off by AFL officials over his comments in a CODE Sports article that the AFL rookie draft had become “an absolute embarrassment’’.

Plapp coached Casey into a grand final. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Plapp is in his fifth season with the Towners and is widely regarded as one of the VFL’s best coaches.

As a Melbourne AFL assistant he guided Casey into the 2016 grand final and he had charge of the VFL representative team in 2017.

He also coached Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup and Box Hill Hawks to the 2010 Development League premiership.

Plapp also played in the VFL, for the Tassie Devils.

The VFL said this morning: “The VFL confirms Williamstown coach Justin Plapp has been issued a please explain relating to alleged conduct during the Round 1 match against Essendon. The VFL will provide an update as required.’’

Williamstown have been contacted for comment.

Originally published as Leading VFL coach Justin Plapp in hot water for alleged umpire abuse