Tallangatta District: Chiltern’s Fin Lappin outed for three matches

Chiltern will be without one of its best players for the Tallangatta District grand final with Fin Lappin suspended. See the video of the incident.

Chiltern’s Fin Lappin will be watching from the sidelines on Tallangatta District league grand final day after being suspended for three matches on Wednesday night.

Lappin was booked on the day by experienced umpire Dave Ryan for rough conduct against Yackandandah’s Ben McIntosh in last Saturday’s preliminary final.

McIntosh was concussed and took no further part in the match, with the hit just before halftime graded careless, high impact and high contact.

McIntosh also suffered damage to his shoulder from the incident, the tribunal was told.

Lappin pleaded not guilty.

Chiltern has until 5pm on Thursday to lodge an appeal that would need to be convened at short notice given the grand final between Chiltern and Kiewa-Sandy Creek is being played on Saturday at Sandy Creek.

Also on Wednesday night, Kyabram’s Kayne Pettifer lost his appeal against a five-match suspension from the first week of the Goulburn Valley league finals.

Kyabram plays Euroa in Sunday’s preliminary final at Deakin Reserve.

EARLIER COVERAGE

Chiltern is headed to the tribunal on Wednesday night in an all-out bid to free talented youngster Fin Lappin to play in the Tallangatta and District league grand final.

Chiltern has knocked back a two-match suspension with an early guilty plea for the heavy bump from Lappin that left Yackandandah player Ben McIntosh concussed and unable to take any further part in last Saturday’s preliminary final.

The hit took place just before halftime with video footage showing Lappin in the air when he made contact with McIntosh.

Lappin was reported by the umpires and received a yellow card with the incident graded careless, high impact and high contact.

Chiltern is the reigning TDFL premier and has come from the elimination final to make Saturday’s grand final against Kiewa-Sandy Creek.

Lappin is regarded as one of the league’s most talented young players and played in Chiltern’s premiership team last year.

Beechworth co-coach Tom Cartledge was suspended earlier in the TDFL finals series for three matches. Picture: Zoe Phillips

Earlier in the finals series the TDFL tribunal suspended Beechworth co-coach Tom Cartledge for three matches for a bump on another Yackandandah player, Billy Griska, in the qualifying final.

Meanwhile, Goulburn Valley league club Kyabram is rolling the dice with an appeal against the five-match suspension handed out to veteran Kayne Pettifer from the first week of finals to also be heard on Wednesday.

The former Richmond player was found guilty of kneeing Mansfield’s Luke Menhenett to the head in the elimination final, which Kyabram won by 16 points to stay alive in the premiership race.

Kyabram plays Euroa in Sunday’s preliminary final after losing to Echuca in the second semi-final.

Kyabram’s Kayne Pettifer, centre, playing against Echuca this season. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Pettifer wasn’t reported on the day by the umpires, but based on the GV league’s match review panel’s grading of the incident as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, the former top-10 AFL draft pick was sent straight to the tribunal

Pettifer, 41, pleaded not guilty at the tribunal.

He has already flagged this will be his final season after a career that has also included three premierships at Kyabram, his original club, and Ovens and Murray club Yarrawonga after being delisted by Richmond at the end of the 2009 season.

Euroa star Will Hayes is considered doubtful to play in the preliminary final after rolling his ankle in the club’s first semi-final win over Seymour.

He took no further part in Sunday’s match after hobbling off the ground in the third quarter.

Hayes starred in the first week of finals along with twin brother and former Euroa coach JD.

Echuca will regain veteran ruckman Kane Morris for the grand final after serving a one-match suspension.

Originally published as Tallangatta District: Chiltern’s Fin Lappin outed for three matches