Essendon’s Mark Baguley says Carlton’s Jed Lamb taunted him about his physical appearance

ESSENDON coach John Worsfold has backed Mark Baguley after the Bombers was involved in an on-field spat with Jed Lamb. The Bomber says he had no idea of Jed Lamb’s family trauma — and that the Blue had taunted him over his physical appearance.

Jed Lamb approaches Mark Baguley at three-quarter time of Saturday’s match.

ESSENDON’S Mark Baguley claims Jed Lamb taunted him about his physical appearance — believed to be a facial birthmark — before sledging Lamb in return.

Baguley’s explosive explanation came after the Blues midfielder said Baguley continually sledged him about his father, who was murdered in an axe attack, despite being asked several times not to talk about his father.

Lamb, one of eight siblings, was six when his father was murdered by a family friend.

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Bombers coach John Worsfold weighed in on the sledging incident today, declaring Baguley and Lamb clearly see their sledging war differently.

Baguley is convinced he’s been misrepresented and declared in a statement he was unaware of Jed’s dad’s passing and it wasn’t the subject of his taunts.

Worsfold supported Baguley and said his player was quite upset with the way the incident had been reported.

“My understanding is that Lamb sledged Baggers and Baggers responded with a sledge as well,” Worsfold said.

“I don’t really don’t want to bring up what Jed’s family’s been through … but it was nothing to do with that, so it should never have been part of the conversation.

Jed Lamb (left) remonstrates with Essendon’s Mark Baguley at three-quarter time of Saturday’s match.

“If Mark Baguley had no idea of it, it’s pretty hard for him to possibly comment on it.”

Baguley, who said on Tuesday night he wasn’t aware of Lamb’s situation, claimed Lamb’s taunt wasn’t the first he had received from him.

“I would like to be extremely clear I was unaware Jed’s father had passed away, nor was it the subject of my comment directed towards Jed,” Baguley said.

“I was responding to Jed who had made an offensive remark about my physical appearance, something he has done in previous games.

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“Jed and I resolved the matter after the match and we shook hands.

“I’m extremely disappointed with the reporting of this story as it is not a true reflection of the events that took place on the field.”

On Monday, Lamb told Carlton officials Baguley made crude comments about his father.

At the three-quarter time break of the game, Baguley and Lamb were involved in an altercation which drew in Carlton coach Brendon Bolton, who was seen to verbally confront Baguley.

The Blues midfielder was charged by the match review officer for striking Baguley in the third quarter and fined $1500.

It’s understood Lamb had considered not paying the fine, claiming his misconduct was retaliation to Baguley’s comments.

Carlton players approach Mark Baguley.

It’s also understood Bolton wasn’t aware of circumstances before injecting himself into the situation.

The Blues said the matter was over.

“Jed’s been fined for misconduct, so we’ll cop that on the chin and move forward,” Blues football boss Andrew McKay said.

“I spoke to Jed on Monday night and as far as we’re concerned we’ll just get on with it, pay the fine and move on.

“Jed was certainly upset at the time. Baguley didn’t realise he was stepping on dangerous ground when he said what he said.”

Former Coleman Medallist Scott Cummings urged Baguley to pay Lamb’s fine.

“I’m all for sledging but of course there’s a line,” Cummings tweeted. “Baguley went way over it but you’d have to think unintentionally. If he didn’t know, all good, just be a good bloke, apologise profusely and cough up the $1500 for Jed Lamb’s fine.”

I’m all for sledging but of course there’s a line. Baguley went way over it but you’d have to think unintentionally. If he didn’t know, all good, just be a good bloke, apologise profusely and cough up the $1500 for Jed Lamb’s fine. #AFLBluesDons

— Scotty Cummings (@ScottyCummings_) May 15, 2018

Lamb was drafted by Sydney in 2010, switched to the GWS Giants in 2013 for two seasons and was traded to the Blues at the end of 2015.

When first drafted, Lamb told the Herald Sun of the impact of his father’s death.

“You see this sort of thing on the news and hear it on the radio but you don’t think it can happen to you,” Lamb said.

“Even looking back now it’s hard to get my head around it. If it was going to happen I guess it’s good that it happened when I was so young. I reckon if it had been when I was 13 to 16 it would have been a lot different and had a bigger impact on my life.

“It had a big impact obviously with mum raising eight kids. That’s why we’re all so close. There’s no doubt that I wouldn’t be playing AFL footy today if it wasn’t for mum.

“It had a bigger impact on my elder brothers and sisters. When it happened they had to go into the police station and answer questions. I was too young for that.

“They were at an age when they knew everything that had happened so it would have been really tough for them. It’s brought us a lot closer together.”

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