Katherine Camels runner Matthew McDonald’s 15-week ban for allegedly striking a Ngukurr Bulldogs player dropped

A Big Rivers Football League runner’s 15-week ban for striking has been overturned as a Waratah goalkicker and a witness to the incident speaks out about the post-match brawl.

A Katherine Camels runner’s 15-week ban for allegedly punching a footballer after the Big Rivers Football League grand final has been thrown out at a tribunal hearing.

Runner Matthew “Macca” McDonald was rubbed out for almost an entire season by the AFLNT following the incident on September 3 at Katherine Showgrounds.

Following a club meeting, the Camels decided to challenge the penalties.

McDonald said no Ngukurr player had come forward to say they had been hit, with the tribunal dismissing the charge on Wednesday night.

The Bulldogs apologised to Katherine in the days after the incident, which saw spectators chase after Camels players.

McDonald, who was out of the senior team injured and acting as a runner on the day, was reported to have struck a Ngukurr player after the final siren.

However, he told this publication he accidentally collided with a spectator going to aid one of his teammates, given strict instructions to get everyone off the ground.

“The umpire ... was adamant I did a flying king hit,” McDonald said.

“Never in my life have I done anything of the sort.

“Dad always brought us up that king hits are a big no no.

“The umpire, I don’t know what he was looking at.

Katherine Camels runner Matthew McDonald was handed a 15-week suspension for striking following the Big Rivers Football League grand final. Picture: Katherine Camels.

“If that had of happened ... the crowd would have been on the ground before the final siren, mate.

“It would have been an all-in brawl. He got it all wrong, big time.”

McDonald, who stressed he had no issues with the Bulldogs players, could have received a 12-week penalty for the charge.

“I said I’d take one for the team but also I felt, no, I didn’t do it so we should go through with it,” McDonald said.

“It’s shouldn’t have even gone this far.

“It was an absolute joke ... fair dinkum deadset embarrassing.”

Katherine Camels Matthew McDonald (centre) was also a runner during a Big Rivers representative match. Picture: Katherine Camels.

McDonald, who works for the local council and is a groundskeeper of the showgrounds, said he was “embarrassed” and “gobsmacked” to be “named and shamed” on social media while on holidays, after the league announced the penalties in late December.

“I didn’t get to have my say,” he said.

McDonald, who has played sport throughout his life, said facing a tribunal was foreign territory.

“Look at my record, I’ve never been suspended in my life,” he said.

“It was like I was the scapegoat.

“It put a bit of pressure on me. It was a bit: ‘How you going?’

“The tribunal, they were really good, they said they didn’t know how it got to here.”

McDonald said he was now passionate to get back on the field for the Camels for the 2023 Big Rivers season.

“Mate, I’m keener than ever now,” he said.

“Now that my name’s cleared.

“I’ve got a positive vibe about me now.

“It’s just taken that much pressure off my shoulders.”

Waratah and Katherine Camel player Lewis Stanton said local players were not surprised by the post-game brawl. Picture: Tymunna Clements / AFLNT Media.

It comes as Katherine Camels and Waratah player Lewis Stanton said he wasn’t sure if he would return to the club in 2023.

“(Ngukurr supporters) were chasing the umpire, that was pretty mental,” Stanton said.

He said local players were not shocked by the incident.

“It’s happened before, so it’s not surprising to them,” he said.

“It would have impacted people’s families more ... they’re watching it (on a livestream).

“And then they’ve cut the stream, not knowing what’s happened.”

Camels president Tim Delaney said the club was glad McDonald’s charged had been thrown out.

“A process like this sucks a lot of time and energy out of your volunteers,” Delaney said.

“I’m sure Matthew and his family will be happy to not have this hanging over their head and move on.”