By Jon Pierik and Marnie Vinall
In today’s AFL briefing:
- The AFL has banned a Carlton supporter for life from all AFL and AFLW matches after he allegedly threw a bottle at a goal umpire.
- The AFL has officially moved the Western Bulldogs’ round two AFLW match against Port Adelaide to the MCG to become a double-header with the men’s elimination final against Hawthorn.
- Dual All-Australian defender Dan Houston says he’s staying at Port Adelaide.
Fan gets life ban for bottle throw
Jon Pierik
The AFL has banned a Carlton supporter for life from all AFL and AFLW matches after he allegedly threw a bottle at a goal umpire during the AFL match between Carlton and St Kilda at Marvel Stadium last Sunday.
Police have charged a 23-year-old Northcote man, who was interviewed at a police station by appointment on Tuesday, with recklessly causing injury, discharging a missile, and unlawful assault.
Umpire Steven Piperno, who had his back to supporters, was struck by the bottle. He suffered a cut to the back of the head, and was replaced after leaving the field. The man dashed from the game on Sunday after the incident.
In a statement on Friday, the AFL said it had banned the man, a Blues supporter with a three-game membership, from attending games.
“Our clear message is this – what we witnessed on Sunday is not acceptable, and it never will be,” AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said.
“A record 7.75 million fans attended matches this year, we have the best fans in the world, but if you choose to assault someone who is doing their job then you will lose the privilege of being able to attend the footy.
“On behalf of the AFL thank you to the fans in the area who helped identify the bottle thrower and Victoria Police for acting so swiftly.
“We are glad Steven was not seriously hurt, and we look forward to seeing him umpire in this year’s finals series.”
Piperno left the field and was replaced by a reserve. He was treated at the stadium for minor injuries, and spent the rest of the match on the interchange bench.
The banned supporter has been bailed to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 1.
Bulldogs’ AFLW game moved to MCG for double-header with men’s final
Marnie Vinall
The AFL has officially moved the Western Bulldogs’ round two AFLW match against Port Adelaide to the MCG to become a double-header with the men’s elimination final against Hawthorn next Friday night. This masthead revealed the move on Thursday after players and club staff were informed of the decision on Thursday morning.
The Western Bulldogs at pre-season training.Credit: Joe Armao
Fans who purchased a ticket to the Western Bulldogs’ round two AFLW match against Port Adelaide will now be able to attend both MCG games, at no additional cost. Those with tickets to the soldout men’s final can enter any time they wish after gates open at 4pm.
The women’s match will begin at 4.30pm (previously 5.05pm), while the men’s match will begin at 7.40pm.
Tickets will also be made available to the two competing club W members to attend the double header, with these tickets to be allocated by the clubs.
The Friday night MCG event is sold out to the public with an expected crowd of 90,000.
The Bulldogs had lobbied the AFL to change the time because they were disappointed the original AFLW start time of 5.05pm made it almost impossible for their fans to attend both games. They put forward three options to the AFL, including starting the women’s game at 4pm on that Friday, or moving it to 11am on the Saturday as well as the double-header option with the men’s elimination final.
“We appreciate the myriad considerations that fixturing presents and would like to thank the AFL for acknowledging the challenges with the original scheduling and working with all of its stakeholders – particularly NAB – to ensure the best possible outcome for our members and fans,” a club statement said on Friday.
“While this does mean we will have to wait to play our first home W game at the redeveloped Mission Whitten Oval, we are sure our Thursday night game against West Coast on September 12 will be a truly special occasion in Footscray.”
Houston turns back on Melbourne offer
AAP
Dual All-Australian defender Dan Houston says he’s staying at Port Adelaide and rejecting overtures to join rival clubs in Melbourne.
The Victorian-born Houston had been rumoured to be seeking a trade despite being contracted at Port until the end of the 2028 season.
Several Melbourne-based clubs were pitching to sign the 27-year-old, who on Thursday night earnt his second All-Australian blazer.
But Houston, whose season has been ended by a five-game suspension which rules him out of Port’s finals campaign, says he’s not leaving Alberton.
“I am contracted and I absolutely love the footy club, I love being in Adelaide,” Houston told Adelaide radio station 5AA on Friday.
“My focus in particular in the next five weeks is helping this team push for finals and get them in the best possible condition and do whatever I need to around the club to help them.
“I am not leaving next year. I am contracted, I wouldn’t have signed the contract if I wasn’t keen on Adelaide and keen on Port Adelaide and I love the place, I love the footy club and the footy club have been good to me.”
Dan Houston is staying at Port Adelaide.Credit: Getty Images
Houston was banned for five matches for a bump which knocked out Adelaide’s Izak Rankine two weeks ago. After he was suspended, Port went to the AFL appeals board but failed to have the length of his ban reduced.
Houston said the support from the Power “reaffirmed” his commitment to the club. “They have always got my back and they have always been really supportive of me,” he said.
“They did everything that they could to try and help me during that period whether it was appealing or whether it was just even at the club getting around me, the boys have been magnificent and I can’t complain at all.”
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