Goulburn Valley: Kyabram veteran Kayne Pettifer rubbed out for five matches

Kayne Pettifer’s career has almost certainly come to a close with a hefty suspension from a Goulburn Valley league finals match.

Kyabram veteran Kayne Pettifer has almost certainly played his final match after being rubbed out by the Goulburn Valley league tribunal for five matches on Wednesday night.

The former Richmond player was found guilty of kneeing Mansfield player Luke Menhenett to the head in last week’s elimination final, which Kyabram won by 16 points to stay alive in the premiership race.

Kayne Pettifer, centre, playing for Kyabram against Echuca this season. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Pettifer wasn’t reported on the day by the umpires, but based on the GV league’s match review panel’s grading of the incident as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact, the former top-10 AFL draft pick was sent straight to the tribunal

Pettifer pleaded not guilty at the tribunal, but was suspended for five matches.

The incident happened in the third quarter and a badly concussed Menhenett left the ground and didn’t return.

He hasn’t been able to work this week.

Pettifer, 41, has kicked 20 goals from 15 matches this season for Kyabram, which plays reigning premier Echuca in Saturday’s second semi-final.

Echuca ruckman Kane Morris will also sit out the second semi-final after being suspended for one match on a rough conduct charge against Seymour last week.

Morris also missed a finals match last year with a one-match suspension before returning to play in the Murray Bombers’ flag win against Euroa.

Kayne Pettifer playing for Richmond against Carlton in AFL football – Richmond vs. Carlton match at the MCG. Footballer Kayne Pettifer takes the mark in front of Andrew Walker.

Pettifer was delisted by Richmond in 2009 after playing 113 matches at AFL level.

He played in a premiership with Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray before returning to his original club, Kyabram, to play in three premierships including a century of goals in 2018.