Kane Ashwood: Tribunal case deferred pending October court appearance

An East Gippsland footballer’s season has been cut short as he prepares to front court on a serious charge from an on-field incident.

Lindenow’s Kane Ashwood will sit out the remainder of the season after the East Gippsland league’s tribunal deferred a striking case that led to him being charged by police with recklessly causing serious injury to an opposition player last Saturday.

The three-member tribunal chaired by Eddie Selwyn deliberated for just 10 minutes on Tuesday night before agreeing to the request for deferral from Lindenow Football-Netball Club and a lawyer engaged by Ashwood.

Paynesville’s Caleb Martin was released from hospital on Tuesday after receiving treatment for a lacerated tongue, side effects of concussion and disc damage in his neck resulting from the alleged blow from Ashwood.

Lindenow midfielder Kane Ashwood, 36, has been charged with recklessly causing serious injury after an on-field incident on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

Ashwood was reported by a boundary umpire in the Lindenow-Paynesville match played at Lindenow with the incident occurring in the third quarter.

Police and ambulance attended the ground and the charge of recklessly causing serious injury, which carries a maximum jail term of 15 years, was laid by police on Sunday.

Ashwood has been bailed to appear at Bairnsdale Magistrates’ Court on October 19, a month after the season concludes.

The 36-year-old’s case had to be resolved by the tribunal before he could play again.

East Gippsland Football-Netball League secretary Ian Forbes confirmed the case was deferred by the tribunal overnight.

Lindenow’s Kane Ashwood after a premiership win in the East Gippsland league. Picture: Supplied

Mr Forbes said he believed no on-field incident in the league had ever been referred to police in the past.

Paynesville was pushing for the case to be heard by the tribunal this week.

The Paynesville Football Netballers Supporters Club has posted an update about Martin, who was playing at senior level for the first time this year, on social media.

“Caleb is out of hospital and on his road to recovery,” the post said.

“He would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and thoughts.

“It’s great to have Caleb home.

“We ask everyone to respect his privacy and give him space to recover.”