BALRANALD will be without star defender Jaxon Neagle for this Sunday’s first semi-final – and the rest of the CMFNL season – after Neagle was handed a 10-week suspension at the tribunal on Wednesday night.
Neagle was charged with intentionally striking another person during the second quarter of Balranald’s eight-point elimination final win over the Cohuna Kangas last Sunday.
Neagle was red-carded following an altercation with Cohuna onballer Riley Hird, with play stopped for almost half an hour as Hird received treatment. An ambulance took Hird to hospital, where he stayed overnight.
Neagle was sent directly to the tribunal on the charge, an offence that was graded as intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact.
Balranald indicated the club would appeal against the suspension, but needed to place a submission with the AFL Central Victoria commission before close of business yesterday (Thursday).
Nyah-Nyah West United defender Joel Campbell will also miss this Sunday’s first semi-final after he was suspended for one week at Wednesday night’s hearing.
Campbell was charged with engaging in rough conduct following the Demons’ four-point loss to the Mallee Eagles in last Saturday’s qualifying final.
Campbell plead guilty.
Should NNW United defeat Balranald on Sunday, Campbell will be free to play in the preliminary final, while a loss would make him available for round 1 next season.
In what was a marathon evening at the tribunal, Woorinen reserves player Jake Schmidt was given a reprimand after he was charged with intentionally striking another person.
Schmidt will be free to play for Woorinen’s reserves against Kerang in Saturday’s second semi-final at Woorinen.
