Michael Walters has been cleared of headbutting.
More to come.
AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia for Tuesday June 25, 2019
Eagles superstars Jeremy McGovern will miss a week of footy after he failed at the AFL tribunal to have his one-match ban overturned, but it's better news for Docker Michael Walters.
Fremantle’s Michael Walters is free to take on Carlton on Sunday after he was cleared of headbutting Melbourne’s Jay Lockhart at the tribunal.
Despite strong evidence from umpire Curtis Deboy that it was a deliberate headbutt, the panel was not satisfied it was an intentional act from the Dockers’ superstar.
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Walters argued he leaned his head in in an attempt to “draw a free kick”, while Lockhart also gave evidence saying he felt no pain and threw his head back in shock at the slight contact.
But West Coast’s Jeremy McGovern will be sidelined for Saturday’s clash against Hawthorn after he failed to successfully argue a plastic chair contributed to Matt Guelfi’s hard contact with the fence.
Walters' availability is a huge boost for the Dockers as the club tries to shore-up its position in the eight against the bottom-placed Blues in Perth.
Umpire Deboy, who was 15m away from the third-term incident on Saturday, was adamant it was a clear headbutt from Walters.
“He pulled Lockhart in by the guernsey, making contact with his head, headbutting with his forehead to Lockhart’s forehead,” Deboy said.
But Walters' player advocate Nick Tweedie QC used the vision to highlight the “complete absence or any real impact or consequences” when the pair tangled.
“We say the evidence of the umpire, while well-intentioned, is not consistent with what happened and what you saw on the video,” Tweedie said.
Walters said he played for a free kick. The panel took less than five minutes to overturn the match review decision to suspend Walters for one match.
“I could see his shoulder coming towards me, and I thought I could get a free kick by lowering my head into his shoulder,” Walters said.
Meanwhile, the positioning of a plastic chair used by a security guard failed to save West Coast star McGovern.
In a major blow for the Eagles, the premiership hero will be missing from the trip to the MCG for bumping Bomber Guelfi hard into the boundary fence on Thursday night in Perth.
Guelfi, who suffered bruised ribs and concussion in the incident and was taken to the hospital in a taxi, is in doubt for tomorrow night’s clash against GWS Giants.
The tribunal took 11 minutes to decide McGovern’s one-match suspension for rough conduct would stand, sidelining one of West Coast’s most important players.
AFL legal counsel Andrew Woods said it was the “forcible push” from McGovern over the boundary line which was largely responsible for the incident.
“It was not just a bump, it was a significant push directly into the direction of the boundary fence,” Woods said.
“It was an unsafe thing to do.”
McGovern tried to argue that he bumped Guelfi in the same way he normally would just inside the boundary line.
But it was the presence of the security guard sitting on a plastic chair that briefly provided the superstar centre half back with a potential lifeline in his appeal last night.
McGovern’s advocate David Grace QC said Guelfi first made contact with the chair, leaving the Bombers’ defender defenceless, as he slid head-first into the fence.
Grace said it was unclear if Guelfi would have hurt himself if the security guard was not present inside the fence.
“Whenever someone is falling to the ground and in a straight line they put their hands up or out to break their fall,” Grace said.
“He (Guelfi) was attempting to do that and what stopped him from effectively doing that was the leg of the chair on which the security guard was sitting on.”
Grace questioned whether the AFL should remove all plastic chairs from inside the playing arena as they posed an unnecessary risk to players such as Guelfi.
“The reason he hit the fence in that position was because he hit the chair,” Grace said.
“He cannot be expected to have a duty of care in relation to the chair.
“Maybe it’s a situation for the AFL itself as to examine whether persons should be on the playing area, or just outside, because of the danger of a person in that situation.”
But the four-man tribunal panel decided McGovern’ acted unreasonably in the circumstances.
McGovern’s absence is a boost for the Hawks as they try to snap a three-game losing streak.
The match-winning defender said he never intended to plough Guelfi into the fence. He said his arms not I attempt to push, but rather in a way to block his run.
“I didn’t connect with a bump like I would have wanted, so I tried to get my arms in his way to stop his overlap run,” McGovern said.
“I would have done the exact same thing if I was anywhere else on the ground.
“As a backman in our team, we do it a fair bit.
“I wanted to get some body on him so he didn’t run around me.
“I was just trying to push him out of bounds. I didn’t mean for him to hit the fence.”
Updates
NOT GUILTY
LOCKHART GIVES EVIDENCE IN WALTERS CASE
Nick Tweedie has introduced that Fremantle have a letter from Melbourne's Jay Lockhart (the victim).
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 25, 2019
AFL counsel Andrew Woods is proposing that, while there is limited video evidence, the evidence from the field umpire is stronger. #foreverfreo
Lockhart: (The headbutt) definitely wasn’t forceful…I didn’t feel any pain. #foreverfreo
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 25, 2019
Lockhart says that his head moved back after the headbutt due to 'shock and surprise' not because of the force of the contact.
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 25, 2019
Umpire Curtis Deboy now being called on the phone to give evidence.
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 25, 2019
Deboy: “I noticed Walters grab Lockhart’s guernsey and pull him in and then move his head forwards into Lockhart.” #foreverfreo
We are now watching video of Walters and Lockhart in an altercation from before the incident.
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 25, 2019
Walters: “I was trying to get away from him but he had a hold of me. I lowered my chin to lower my centre of gravity.” #foreverfreo
Walters describes the incident: “I pulled him towards me. I wanted to chest him and in the process our heads did make contact. We definitely made contact. My chest did hit his.” #foreverfreo
— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 25, 2019
READY FOR WALTERS
FROM JAY CLARK: "The use of a personal phone has helped fix the issues.
AFL tribunal staffer Pat Clifton has emerged the hero."
After technical difficulties delayed its start, Michael Walters tribunal challenge is set to begin.
Major technical issues have delayed Fremantle Docker Michael Walters tribunal hearing.
Jeremy McGovern's earlier hearing, beamed in from WA, went off without a hitch, but Walters is in a different location and there are issues with both sound and vision in the video hook up.
The Docker's hearing was scheduled for 6.30pm, after he was charged with headbutting Demon Jay Lockhart, Melbourne, during the third quarter of the weekend's match.
MRO: "Based on the available evidence, the incident was assessed as Intentional Conduct with Low Impact and High Contact. The incident was classified as a one-match sanction."
OH DEAR...
Major technical issues have delayed Fremantle Docker Michael Walters tribunal hearing.
Jeremy McGovern's earlier hearing, beamed in from WA, went off without a hitch, but Walters is in a different location and there are issues with both sound and vision in the video hook up.
The Docker's hearing was scheduled for 6.30pm, after he was charged with headbutting Demon Jay Lockhart, Melbourne, during the third quarter of the weekend's match.
MRO: "Based on the available evidence, the incident was assessed as Intentional Conduct with Low Impact and High Contact. The incident was classified as a one-match sanction."
The unhelpful positioning of a plastic chair failed to save West Coast star defender Jeremy McGovern at the AFL tribunal.
In a major blow for the Eagles, the premiership hero will be missing from Saturday’s clash against Hawthorn at the MCG for bumping Bomber Matt Guelfi hard into the boundary fence on Thursday night.
Guelfi, who suffered bruised ribs and concussion in the incident and was taken to the hospital in a taxi, is in doubt for tomorrow night’s clash against GWS Giants.
The tribunal took less than five minutes to decide McGovern’s one-match suspension for rough conduct would stand, sidelining one of West Coast’s most important players.
While McGovern first made contact with Guelfi inside the boundary line, it was the presence of the security guard sitting on a plastic chair that briefly provided the superstar centre half back with a potential lifeline in his appeal last night.
McGovern’s advocate David Grace QC said Guelfi first made contact with the chair, leaving the Bombers’ defender defenseless as he slid head-first into the fence.
“Whenever someone is falling to the ground and in a straight line they put their hands up or out to break their fall,” Grace said.
“He was attempting to do that and what stopped him from effectively doing that was the leg of the chair on which the security guard was sitting on.”
“We got a fair hearing. It is what it is and I’ll cop the week. I’m just glad Matt’s health is okay. That was my main concern.” Jeremy McGovern pic.twitter.com/fNUT9b6OxX
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
Grace questioned whether the AFL should remove all plastic chairs from inside the playing arena as they posed an unnecessary risk to players such as Guelfi.
“The reason he hit the fence in that position was because he hit the chair,” Grace said.
“He cannot be expected to have a duty of care in relation to the chair.
“Maybe it’s a situation for the AFL itself as to examine whether persons should be on the playing area, or just outside, because of the danger of a person in that situation.”
But the four-man tribunal panel decided McGovern’ acted unreasonably in the circumstances by bumping and pushing Guelfi into the fence.
MCGOVERN SUSPENDED
The unhelpful positioning of a plastic chair failed to save West Coast star defender Jeremy McGovern at the AFL tribunal.
In a major blow for the Eagles, the premiership hero will be missing from Saturday’s clash against Hawthorn at the MCG for bumping Bomber Matt Guelfi hard into the boundary fence on Thursday night.
Guelfi, who suffered bruised ribs and concussion in the incident and was taken to the hospital in a taxi, is in doubt for tomorrow night’s clash against GWS Giants.
The tribunal took less than five minutes to decide McGovern’s one-match suspension for rough conduct would stand, sidelining one of West Coast’s most important players.
While McGovern first made contact with Guelfi inside the boundary line, it was the presence of the security guard sitting on a plastic chair that briefly provided the superstar centre half back with a potential lifeline in his appeal last night.
McGovern’s advocate David Grace QC said Guelfi first made contact with the chair, leaving the Bombers’ defender defenseless as he slid head-first into the fence.
“Whenever someone is falling to the ground and in a straight line they put their hands up or out to break their fall,” Grace said.
“He was attempting to do that and what stopped him from effectively doing that was the leg of the chair on which the security guard was sitting on.”
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js“We got a fair hearing. It is what it is and I’ll cop the week. I’m just glad Matt’s health is okay. That was my main concern.” Jeremy McGovern pic.twitter.com/fNUT9b6OxX
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
Grace questioned whether the AFL should remove all plastic chairs from inside the playing arena as they posed an unnecessary risk to players such as Guelfi.
“The reason he hit the fence in that position was because he hit the chair,” Grace said.
“He cannot be expected to have a duty of care in relation to the chair.
“Maybe it’s a situation for the AFL itself as to examine whether persons should be on the playing area, or just outside, because of the danger of a person in that situation.”
But the four-man tribunal panel decided McGovern’ acted unreasonably in the circumstances by bumping and pushing Guelfi into the fence.
“It’s an unusual situation because of the presence of the chair.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Jones (chair) #AFLTribunal
"The issue that has been raised is that it's not clear that the player McGovern's duty of care includes the presence of the chair."
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Jones (chair) #AFLTribunal
“I want to start off with a proposition that the jury has to exclude the realistic possibility that the intervening act of the chair, being where it was, has contributed to the lack of effective avoidance action in this case.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Grace QC #AFLTribunal
“Player Guelfi had his hands out to stop himself, which is natural. The avoidance mechanism of his arms was not effective due to the leg of the chair that the security guard was sitting on.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Grace QC #AFLTribunal
MCGOVERN CHAIR UNDER MICROSCOPE
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js“It’s an unusual situation because of the presence of the chair.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Jones (chair) #AFLTribunal
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"The issue that has been raised is that it's not clear that the player McGovern's duty of care includes the presence of the chair."
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Jones (chair) #AFLTribunal
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js“I want to start off with a proposition that the jury has to exclude the realistic possibility that the intervening act of the chair, being where it was, has contributed to the lack of effective avoidance action in this case.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Grace QC #AFLTribunal
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js“Player Guelfi had his hands out to stop himself, which is natural. The avoidance mechanism of his arms was not effective due to the leg of the chair that the security guard was sitting on.”
— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) June 25, 2019
David Grace QC #AFLTribunal
You might think Channel 7 commentator and SuperFooty Podcast team member Brian ‘BT’ Taylor was contractually obligated to say his famous catchphrase at least once per match.
But that’s not the case.
Listen to find out where the call came from and BT talk about that now famous Roaming Brian incident when he mistook a journalist on live TV: “I thought he was a cleaner I didn’t know who he was.”
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