GCA tribunal result: Alexander Thomson’s Terry Siluca free to play in grand final

The GCA tribunal has handed down its verdict over an alleged physical altercation that saw four players offered suspensions, with one Vikings player fighting for his grand final freedom.

Terry Siluca is free to play in Alexander Thomson’s grand final.

ALEXANDER Thomson cricketer Terry Siluca is free to play in his side’s grand final against Guild St-Mary’s after sensationally appealing a hefty suspension for alleged assault.

The GCA3 fourth’s player was slapped with a five-match ban for his involvement in an alleged physical altercation in a qualifying final two weeks ago.

A Leading Senior Constable with Victoria Police, Siluca had been charged with ‘physically assaulting a player’, while Saints player Jordan Fulton was charged with ‘making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with an umpire’, with both charges being graded level four.

But Siluca cleared his name at the tribunal on Wednesday and will play in the season decider against the Saints on Saturday.

GCA secretary Peter Edwards said there were conflicting versions of events that contributed to the tribunal’s decision.

“The bottom line is this: it was a case of he said, she said,” Edwards said.

“Terry had one version of events, there was another version of events, and on balance the independent tribunal didn’t think there was enough evidence to categorically say this (specific charge) occurred.

“So it was really about lack of evidence as opposed to anything else. There were two versions of events, and they differed significantly.”

Fulton accepted his five-match ban and will miss the grand final, as well as the first four matches of next season.

Guild-St Mary’s captain Brendan Harvey and Alexander Thomson skipper Cal Gillett were both handed a suspended two-week ban, carrying over until the end of the 2023-24 season.

Edwards confirmed Gillett would still receive his suspended ban despite Siluca clearing his name.

“The only thing up for discussion, it’s more about the lack of evidence than anything, there’s no doubt an incident occurred,” he said.

“Both captains … in terms of lawfully run the MCC laws of cricket, they’re responsible for players’ behaviour.

“There was definitely an incident, no one is arguing that, it’s just the circumstances of that incident.”

A Guild-St Mary’s official told the Geelong Advertiser the club had moved on from the incident and would now focus in playing in three grand finals this weekend.

“We wish Terry and Alexander Thomson all the best with their grand final this week,” the club official said.

“We have moved on from the incident and consider it having been put to bed.

“We’re looking forward to having three sides representing the club in grand finals this weekend.”

The qualifying final did not have an official GCA umpire, but Edwards confirmed the grand final would be have an umpire on Saturday.

Originally published as GCA tribunal result: Alexander Thomson’s Terry Siluca free to play in grand final