By DAVID NAGEL
CASES involving Cranbourne president Shane Baker and Narre Warren coach Chris Toner are among a list of six that will be heard by the AFL South East independent tribunal this week.
Baker and Toner are joined by Cranbourne players Marc Holt, Michael Theodoridis and Troy Tharle, and Narre Warren player Kain Baskaya, in having cases to answer after a South East Football Netball League investigation into an after match incident between the two clubs in round 11.
After a long and thorough independent investigation process relating to the post-game melee involving the two clubs, six cases have been sent direct to tribunal, with a further case to be heard by the SEFNL board.
Under AFL Rules, the independent investigator had up to 21 days to make the final recommendations to SEFNL, after the investigation was launched on Tuesday 7 July.
The league provided tribunal notifications to both clubs last Thursday 30 July, with the charges outlined and a list of requested attendees.
Charges that have been brought against players and officials from both clubs include intentionally striking, attempted striking, engaging in a melee, instigating a melee and wrestling.
“There are elements with what happened after the game that we were disappointed with and the matter is now in the league’s hands and they’ll deal with it how they see fit,” Baker said in the days after the incident.
Toner also made comment in the aftermath.
“It’s in the hands of the league, so I can’t say too much, but these players are like sons to me,” he said.
“I won’t apologise for sticking up for my players, that’s who I am, and that will never change.”
Four cases will be heard at the next sitting of the AFL South East independent tribunal on Tuesday night, with the remaining two cases to be heard on Wednesday night.
SEFNL has said it will make no further comment on these cases until after the tribunal hearings.
