Buffaloes coach Mark Motlop facing NTFL tribunal for breaching code of conduct

DARWIN coach Mark Motlop will front the NTFL Tribunal on the rare charge of breaching the league's code of conduct - over a story that appeared in the NT News.

Motlop comments story

DARWIN coach Mark Motlop will front the NTFL Tribunal on the rare charge of breaching the league's code of conduct and its member protection policy.

The charges relate to Motlop's comments in an NT News article on December 14 over the controversial player points system, when he said: "The AFLNT are cowboys and they are making it up as they go along. There are amateurs running this competition.''

He was also charged over an email sent to the AFLNT football operations department when he wrote, "you blokes are f***ing kidding - what a load of bull****!!!!" after Nightcliff were cleared of going over the 22 player points allowed against the Buffaloes in Round 10.

The AFLNT informed Motlop he has violated rule 9.3 of the AFLNT Code of Conduct by-laws, which is to "display and foster respect for umpires, opponents, coaches, administrators, other officials, parents and spectators'', for both the comments made in the NT News and in the email.

Motlop said he never signed a code of conduct agreement.

Motlop comments story

In other tribunal news, Waratahs midfielder Michael Handby will miss his side's next two matches after accepting an early guilty plea for engaging in rough conduct against Southern Districts defender Kapun Morris.

The incident, which saw Morris taken to hospital complaining of a sore neck, was graded as reckless, negligent and high.

Tahs forward Scott Ward is clear to play against St Marys on Saturday after accepting a reprimand for striking Districts' Keegan Dingo in the same match.

A charge of kicking against Ward was withdrawn because the kick was deemed to have insufficient force.

Crocodile pair Henry Armour and Chris Stasinowsky also accepted reprimands from what was a fiery match at Gardens Oval.

Armour was charged with an attempted strike on Tahs' Jack McEwin, while Stasinowsky's third quarter strike on Tahs' Liam O'Connor was graded reckless and of a low degree.

A clash between Nightcliff's Julian Lockwood and Wanderers' Alex Erlandson was reviewed for a possible head butt.

But the review panel deemed there was no reportable contact made due to insufficient force.

Suspended Eagle Daniel Motlop was quick to react to the non-report through social media yesterday.

He tweeted: "Clear head butt and front-on contact to a Wanderers player and no player sighted (sic)."

A last quarter clash between St Marys' Peter MacFarlane and Magpie Josh Jukes was reviewed, but no report for front-on contact was made because both players had eyes on the football. 

Mark Motlop