By KATHRYN BERMINGHAM
A KOOWEERUP junior football player has been handed a lifetime suspension for an incident over the weekend he says was accidental.
Jayden Barry was banned for two years and two weeks by a tribunal on Tuesday night for swearing and striking an umpire.
AFL Victoria policy states that any ban over 16 weeks will see the player automatically deregistered for life.
The altercation happened on Sunday during an under-18s qualifying final between Kooweerup and Longwarry, held at Buln Buln.
Jayden told the Gazette on Thursday afternoon 3 September that he had been receiving abuse from opposition spectators throughout the game.
“Me and Longwarry were having a fight on the ground after a tackle,” he said.
“The crowd was abusing me so I started swearing back at them and received a yellow card from the umpire.
“I was walking off the ground and our captain, Bailey, had his hand on my shoulder. The umpire came up and I didn’t see him.
“I shrugged and I accidentally hit him.”
He said he felt the judgment was unfair considering his age and the penalties imposed on other players for similar incidents.
“There are senior players that have gotten off much more lightly for the same thing,” he said.
“Considering that this was an accident, I definitely think it is too harsh.”
Ellinbank and District Football League president Roger Gwynne said on Thursday morning that the incident was “extremely disappointing”.
“It was a spiteful game. At one point a push and shove developed and the umpire got involved, as he rightfully should have.
“The player lifted his elbow and struck the umpire, who was obviously very shaken up but unharmed.”
Mr Gwynne said the report followed a record of on-field misbehaviour.
“That particular player has got a history of incidents, including one that had happened earlier in that match.”
The incident was the fourth time that 17-year-old Jayden had fronted the tribunal, with the club in the process of planning an appeal.
Mr Gwynne added that the behaviour of the crowd at the match immediately following was also concerning.
“I was very disappointed at the behaviour of the Kooweerup spectators and a portion of the Nar Nar Goon spectators,” he said.
“I escorted the umpires off the ground and I was shocked at the abuse.”
“I pride myself in running a league where we don’t do that. If clubs continue to act that way they will be put on notice at the next board meeting.”
