Radio star Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald says Thomas Baulch’s two-match ban was a ‘bit harsh’

A two-match ban handed to a Darwin Buffaloes player for sipping a beer during a Men’s Premier League match was “a bit harsh”, radio funnyman Ryan Fitzgerald says. SEE THE VIDEO

A two-match ban for a Darwin Buffaloes footballer and TikTok star for sipping a beer during a Men’s Premier League match was an “overreaction”, radio funnyman and former AFL player Ryan Fitzgerald says.

Buffs player Thomas Baulch copped the penalty from the NTFL tribunal after a supporter ran onto the ground during the Southern Districts and Buffaloes match on February 19 and offered him a drink.

Fitzgerald, who visited the Top End last football season for a few days, taking in a Wanderers game, said a fine or a reprimand was a more suitable punishment.

“I think it’s a bit of an overreaction to be honest,” Fitzgerald said.

“A bit of a laugh and then done and dusted. I thought two weeks was a bit harsh.”

However, he also said it was a sign that the NTFL was a “very professional league up there in Darwin”.

Ryan "Fitzy" Fitzgerald at Lee Point in January last year. Picture: Instagram.

“If it was a suburban football game, I understand, you could get away it,” he said.

“But the league up there in Darwin is a really good league. It’s the number one league in summer.

“If you do let this go, it does set the precedent for anyone else that if they want to do it, they know they can get away with it.

“I understand they had to put their foot down and tell everyone that this is not on, but it’s not like he sculled it or anything, it was a quick sip.

“I understand they need to set an example for the young kids... (but) I thought a fine would probably be sufficient.”

Fitzgerald, who played 18 games at AFL level for the Sydney Swans and Adelaide Crows, said he was “never that brazen” to do something similar.

“I was just trying to get a kick,” he said.

TikTok star and Darwin Buffaloes footballer speaks out after two-match ban

DARWIN Buffaloes and TikTok star Tom Baulch view of Top End footy has not been soured after copping a ban for a cheeky on field sip of beer in his final NTFL game of the season.

The incident occurred in the last 5-10 minutes of the fourth quarter of Darwin Buffaloes match against Southern Districts – which was incidentally Buffs’ final game of the season.

Buffs at the time were down by 100 points and the action was away from Baulch and they ultimately lost 27.11 (173) to 14.3 (87).

It wasn’t the first the man with over 150,000 followers on TikTok had been offered a drink by the crowd on that day.

He had previously said no but with the game all but over he chose to have a “cheeky little sip” which was caught by plenty of cameras.

It was later spotted by the AFLNT who directed the Buffalo directly to the tribunal on a serious misconduct charge where he was handed a two week ban.

Speaking on ABC Radio Darwin Baulch said he didn’t know the people who had offered him the drinks.

“We were down by about 100 points at that stage. It wasn’t the first time someone had come on the first to offer me a drink,” Baulch said.

“I had just said no, no, no all game but by the end of the game I just said I would have a cheeky little sip and that was caught on camera and did the rounds online.

“I don’t know who they were. I’m lucky enough to have a bit of a following online so they stuck into me a bit.

“I’m a pro athlete trainer so I travel around Australia and the world to train pro athletes and that’s the sort of content I post.”

The suspension means that Baulch will miss out on the first two games of his southern season but he confirmed the ban had not soured his view of NT footy.

“I don’t know how many they wanted to ban me for but thanks to them I guess for it not being too many,” he said.

“I love it up there, I have so much fun. I have so much love for the Darwin Buffaloes and love the community and competition.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been suspended or reported for doing anything wrong.”

Top NT footballer suspended after midgame beer

A Darwin Buffaloes player has copped a two-week ban following a serious misconduct charge for drinking a beer during a game.

It comes after the player, Thoms Baulch, posted a video of himself playing at the Southern Districts v Buffaloes match on Saturday, appearing to take a swig of a drink from a fan at Norbuilt Oval in the fourth quarter.

Baulch was charged with serious misconduct and war referred directly to the Tribunal where he was given a two week suspension.

In a text to NT News, club president Shaun Pearce said the club understood Baulch had been suspended and it was “very disappointed in the outcome”, but had not received an official response from the league yet.

Darwin Buffaloes player Thomas Baulch during the match where he took a sip of a beer during the fourth quarter. Picture: Celina Whan.

“(We) will look at what options we have,” Pearce said.

On Facebook on Wednesday night, Baulch said drinking was “not something I promote during a game but having fun with your footy definitely is.”

Baulch posted the scene on a TikTok compilation of his time in Darwin where he has a following of over 159,000.

“Enjoy the game, give back to the fans and let the boys play,” Baulch said.

An AFLNT spokeswoman confirmed Baulch had been suspended for drinking during the game.

Baulch has been contacted for comment.

Southern Districts won 27.11 (173) to 14.3 (87) over Buffaloes.

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