Zachary Moody, Jemma Iacono handed bans after semi-final contests
A Nightcliff player could miss out on the NTFL grand final after being handed a ban for a dangerous tackle in his side’s semi-final win. Read the latest charges from the 2023-24 season.
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A Nightcliff standout could miss the 2023-24 NTFL grand final after copping a charge for rough conduct in his side’s semi-final triumph against St Mary’s.
Zachary Moody has played an important role in his side’s forward line this season, and brought the pressure in their 13.9 (97) to 11.10 (76) win over the Green Machine.
However, he may not play a role in the grand final after being charged with engaging in rough conduct against Saints’ Jack Kluske in the fourth quarter of their semi-final encounter.
His conduct was deemed careless with high contact and medium impact meaning he has been given a two match charge.
Nightcliff were given the chance to lower the penalty to one match if he was to make an early guilty plea, however with the side avoiding the prelim final that means he would miss the Big Dance.
Instead the club has confirmed it will contest the charge at the tribunal with the hopes of having the indirection reduced to a reprimand so he can play.
His Tigers teammate Brett Kennedy was also charged following an incident before the St Mary’s match.
He was charged with engaging in an act of misconduct in the lead up to the game, which the match review panel deemed a low level offence.
Kennedy has been given a one match ban, but is more likely to accept a reprimand by making an early guilty plea.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Premier League St Mary’s Jemma Iacono was charged with bumping or making forceful front-on contact against PINT’s Jasmyn Hewett, while her head was over the ball.
Iacono made the challenge in the second quarter of her side’s semi-final against the still unbeaten Queenants, who went on to win 10.5 (65) to 4.8 (32).
The match review panel found her action to be careless with high contact and medium impact and as a result handed down a two match penalty.
Iacono can accept a one match penalty with an early guilty plea, but doing so will mean she will miss the preliminary final against the Nightcliff Tigers.
NTFL clubs slapped with fines after half time brawl
Two NTFL clubs are facing fines after their players engaged in a lengthy brawl as the half time siren sounded, in what was a tense Round 18 encounter.
St Mary’s and the Darwin Buffaloes have both been slapped with $500 fines after their players engaged in a melee in the midfield.
The minute-long push and shove happened as Buffaloes made a rare inroad forward in the lead up to a goal to Antonio James.
After the goal was scored players from both sides ran to the centre of the field where a melee was already under way, either to get involved or pull players out of the contact.
The teams eventually broke apart with some more words and shoves exchanged ahead of the half time break of what was the Buffaloes last game of the season.
Both sides have been charged with engaging in a melee which carries a $500 fine, reduced to $250 if the clubs make an early guilty plea.
Meanwhile, Buffaloes’ Bradley Stokes was charged with engaging in an act of misconduct during another high tension moment during the third quarter of the match.
Stokes indiscretion was against former St Mary’s captain Nate Paredes, but deemed a low level offence resulting in just a one match penalty.
He can accept a reprimand instead if he makes an early guilty plea.
St Mary’s went on to win the match 24.12 (156) to 4.10 (34) after dominating in the final quarter.
Why Nightcliff champion could miss big Districts encounter
Nightcliff Tigers’ star Cam Ilett could spend some time on the sidelines after being charged with bumping an opposition player.
Ilett remains one of the standout performers for the Tigers in the 2023-24 season, backing up years of great showings for the side.
However, he could miss an all-important match against Southern Districts after catching the umpire’s attention for a bump in the second quarter of his side’s match against PINT.
Ilett has been charged with bumping or making forceful contact with Harry McKimmie, while the opposition player had his head down over the football.
The offence was deemed careless conduct with medium impact and high contact resulting in a two-match penalty for Ilett, down to one if he makes an early guilty plea.
However, there remains just two matches left in the season, with Nightcliff tied on competition points with Districts and St Mary’s at the top of the table, making this a high stakes games.
Nightcliff went on to beat PINT 8.12 (60) to 3.8 (26) to maintain their spot in the top three, and in sight of a double chance come finals.
Meanwhile, premiership-winning Waratah coach Ryan Ayres was also charged for engaging in an act of misconduct against an umpire.
The low level offence occurred at three quarter time during Ayres side’s 13.14 (92) to 7.7 (49) loss to St Mary’s, which set Waratah eight points adrift from the top three.
The match review panel gave Ayres a one week ban, which he can have reduced to a reprimand if he makes an early guilty plea.
REPLAY: Tigers punish Magpies as outgoing champion bags four
Nightcliff put a turbulent day behind them and sent off a great of the NTFL in his final home game with a decisive victory over Palmerston on Friday night. Watch the full match REPLAY here.
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