Wodonga Raiders coach Marc Almond found guilty on one of three umpire abuse charges

Wodonga Raiders coach Marc Almond will watch from the sidelines next round after being suspended. Go inside the tribunal hearing.

Wodonga Raiders coach Marc Almond has been suspended for the minimum allowable penalty of one match after being found guilty of disputing an umpire’s decision.

Almond faced the tribunal on Wednesday night on three umpire-related charges arising from a halftime melee in the clash between Raiders and North Albury last Saturday.

But he was cleared of using abusive, insulting and obscene language towards an umpire after telling tribunal members that “absolutely I was agitated, animated, but not once did I swear”.

Almond pleaded not guilty to the two charges laid by field umpire Mason Ring.

A third charge of Almond behaving in an abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene manner towards an umpire laid by the league’s match review panel was withdrawn.

Raiders will need to find an interim coach for their next clash against Wangaratta before Almond returns for the remaining three matches of the season.

Former AFL player Cameron Ellis-Yolmen is staying with Wodonga Raiders next season.

Former Brisbane and Adelaide midfielder Cam Ellis-Yolmen could be thrust into the role on a one-off basis after recently agreeing to stay on in 2024 with current assistant coach Joel Price another contender.

Raiders are yet to announce whether Almond will coach the club next year.

Ring told the tribunal he felt threatened in the way Almond came on to the ground after the melee erupted.

Ring said he was sworn at multiple times.

“Being that close to Mark I felt (the abuse) was being directed at me,” Ring said.

But Almond vehemently denied he swore.

He admitted using a raised voice towards another umpire, Robbie Clarke, urging him to take control of the melee.

“I thought if this wasn’t brought under control it could become really messy,” Almond said.

“If someone swore, 100 per cent, unequivocally, it didn’t come from me.”

Wodonga Raiders coach Marc Almond. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Almond said he spoke to Clarke in an animated tone because they grew up together at Yarrawonga.

“Not once did I swear or use any obscenity,” Almond said.

“But on repeat I said ‘get control of the game’ and that was based around the fear I had for a bunch of high testosterone teenagers.

“This has hit me pretty hard to be honest.

“I’ve sat in coaches boxes with high-profile coaches who yell and scream.

“If Mason heard swear words, they weren’t from me.”

Clarke and North Albury player Kade Brown were called as witnesses and agreed that Almond was in an agitated state.

EARLIER COVERAGE

Wodonga Raiders coach Marc Almond will appear before the Ovens and Murray league tribunal on Wednesday night on three umpire abuse charges.

The experienced non-playing coach, who is yet to be reappointed by the club for next season, was booked for disputing an umpire’s decisions and using abusive, insulting and obscene language towards an umpire last Saturday.

A further charge of behaving in an abusive, insulting, threatening or obscene manner towards or in relation to an umpire was laid by the league’s match review panel on Monday.

The alleged incidents took place at halftime of the Raiders’ latest defeat this season to North Albury with Almond referred directly to the tribunal.

It coincides with six players from North Albury and five from Wodonga Raiders being charged with engaging in a melee.

Each player involved in the melee has received a reprimand and can play next round.

Marc Almond was appointed coach of Wodonga Raiders last year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

North Albury led by 17 points at halftime before pulling away to win by 44 points to remain an outside chance of snaring a finals berth.

Wodonga Raiders have won only one game and are locked in a battle for the wooden spoon with Myrtleford, which has also recorded only one victory.

The two teams play again in the final round of the season with the competition having a general bye this weekend.

O&M league rules prevent public comment on cases before tribunal hearings.

Almond took over as Raiders coach from Jarrod Hodgkin last season after previously coaching another O&M club, Corowa-Rutherglen, in 2018 and 2019.

He coached Howlong to a flag in the Hume league and also coached Dederang-Mt Beauty in the Tallangatta and District league.

Last month, the AFL launched a national campaign “Umpire Respect” in response to rising instances of abuse directed at umpires.

“Those who abuse umpires in football are not just disrespecting the individual who is the target of the abuse, they are disrespecting the game, their club and the community they represent,” AFL executive general manager game development Rob Auld said.

Last month, Bendigo league club Kangaroo Flat sacked its senior coach Nathan Johns after he was suspended for four matches by the league’s tribunal on umpire abuse charges from a match against ladder leader Sandhurst.

Heathcote Football-Netball Club was handed a $2000 fine, suspended until the end of the season, after a complaint of umpire abuse from its fans in a round 3 match this year.