Every penalised Men’s Premier League player since the 2016-17 season
All the Men’s Premier League players who have fronted the league’s judiciary over the past seven seasons.
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Footballers pushing the limits of what is acceptable will always, unfortunately, be an aspect of our great game.
However, which NTFL players have taken things a bit too far the most in the Men’s Premier League?
This publication has gone over all match review panel and tribunal hearings – from seasons 2016-17 to present day – to determine which players have been dealt with by the league’s judiciary the most and copped the biggest penalties.
It appears St Mary’s has produced the highest number of individual charges over the seven seasons, with 66.
However, Nightcliff has been comparatively clean with just 14 charges, with 28 per cent coming in Round 1 of the 2021-22 season.
That day, four Tigers – Michael Mummery, Wade Derksen, John Butcher and Trent Melville – were charged with offences ranging from rough conduct to striking.
Some of the biggest offenders from Men’s Premier League
Desmond Corbett – Palmerston (formerly Desmond Ugle)
Total penalties: Two
Biggest penalty: 18 weeks and deregistration.
Palmerston’s Desmond Corbett, formerly Desmond Ugle, was found guilty of serious misconduct and deregistered following the match against Wanderers in Round 17 in 21-22.
Sylvani Babui – Tiwi Bombers
Total penalties: Two
Biggest penalty: 16 matches and deregistration in 21-22.
Babui was charged with threatening behaviour towards an umpire in the third and fourth quarters of the match against Nightcliff in Round 12 at Bathurst Island in 21-22, which was referred straight to the tribunal.
Accused of “verbal threats” by the league, he was found guilty, issued a 16-match penalty and was deregistered.
The club said “without umpires, we don’t have a game of footy” and was “disappointed” in Babui’s behaviour.
He also received a reprimand for kicking during the 2017-18 season.
Desmond Ugle – Palmerston
Total penalties: Two
Biggest penalty: 15 weeks for several charges including serious misconduct in 17-18.
Ugle fronted the tribunal for four charges following the match against Nightcliff in Round 12 in 17-18, where he pleaded guilty.
He used abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene language towards an umpire, behaved in a similar fashion; showed serious misconduct after the game and behaved in an abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene manner to an umpire, post-match.
Issued with a 15-week penalty, Ugle was deeply apologetic for his behaviour, the league reported.
Club president John Marshall said Ugle had received a fair hearing.
“He is very remorseful and ashamed of what he did and it’s out of his character to behave in this way,” Marshall said.
Independent tribunal chairman Marty Aust said Ugle’s actions were “as serious as it gets”.
“Your conduct was reprehensible. It is the antithesis of what the game of AFL is all about,” Aust said.
“Your behaviour was abusive, obscene and at time racially charged.
“It involved threatening, physical conduct. It was directed at match officials, umpires, members of the general public and in full view of supporters including families and children.
“Your behaviour was unacceptable on all levels including to the community, to the sport, to your club and as you have acknowledged, to yourself.”
Murray Liddle – Palmerston
Total penalties: Two
Biggest penalty: Seven-match ban for using abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene behaviour towards an umpire against Wanderers in Round 17 in the 2021-22 season.
Liddle also pleaded guilty to striking two St Mary’s players in Round 8 of the same season and received a three-match penalty.
Michael Coombes – St Mary’s, Darwin Buffaloes
Total penalties: Three
Biggest penalty: Three matches for serious misconduct
Then playing for St Mary’s, Coombes once faced the tribunal for six individual charges, including three for striking plus one each for wrestling, rough play and kicking, following a Round 13 match against Wanderers in January 2018.
He reportedly struck three different players – Simon Bates, Justin Maher and Thomas Motlop – and wrestled, engaged in rough play and kicked Motlop.
The matter was immediately referred to the tribunal.
With a raft of offences combined, Coombes was banned for three games.
He also received a reprimand for engaging in a melee in 16-17 while playing for Saints.
He was also banned for a match for striking in 20-21, then as a Darwin Buffalo.
Jalen Clarke – Darwin Buffaloes
Total penalties: Six
Biggest penalty: Two matches for headbutting in 20-21.
Dion Munkara – Tiwi Bombers
Total penalties: Five
Biggest penalty: Three matches for striking Palmerston’s Clarence Bird in Round 1 of the 22-23 season.
Will Farrer – Southern Districts, Palmerston
Total penalties: Five
Biggest penalty: One match for rough conduct (twice), charging and abusive language across several seasons.
Nick Yarran – St Mary’s
Total penalties: Six
Biggest penalty: Three weeks for striking in 20/21 in a match against Southern Districts.
Bradley Stokes – Darwin Buffaloes
Total penalties: Four
Biggest penalty: Seven weeks for striking in 16-17.
Stokes received seven weeks for striking in the match against Waratah in Round 3. Immediately referred to the tribunal, Stokes’ act was deemed intentional, high impact and high contact.
He also recently apologised for vilifying Waratah opponent Corey Rich in Round 10 of the 22-23 season.
Henry Armour – Southern Districts
Total penalties: Four
Biggest penalty: Three matches for rough conduct in the 16-17 season.
Armour appeared before the tribunal three times in 16-17, receiving a total of five matches for two charges of rough conduct across separate games.
He was also banned for two games for charging against a St Mary’s opponent in Round 17.
“The player has a bad record within the last two years, which increases the sanction by two-weeks to a three-week sanction,” the league said in a statement after a hearing.
Brenton Motlop – Wanderers
Total penalties: Five
Biggest penalty: One match for rough conduct (three times) and kneeing in 16-17
Mitchel Taylor – Wanderers
Total penalties: Four
Biggest penalty: Three matches for forceful front-on contact in 17-18.
Keegan Dingo – Southern Districts
Total penalties: Three
Biggest penalty: Two matches for rough conduct in 16-17 and in 17-18.
Sam Darley – Tiwi Bombers
Total penalties: Two
Biggest penalty: Five weeks for striking Jake McQueen in 22-23.
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