By Shane Fleming
JOEL HELMAN SUSPENSION The Cohuna Kangas will be without star midfielder Joel Helman for tomorrow’s game against Swan Hill, with the former Jack Betts Medalist having accepted a two-match suspension on Wednesday evening.
Helman was reported for a dangerous tackle that he laid on Balranald forward Liam Farnsworth in the third quarter of the Kangas 75-point win over Balranald last Saturday.
The incident happened on the center wing, with Farnsworth marking a ball that was deemed to have not travelled the required fifteen meters.
With play on called by the controlling umpire, Helman approached Farnsworth from behind, tackling and then slinging Farnsworth heavily into the ground.
As a result of the strong tackle, Farnsworth was removed from the ground with concussion symptoms and took no further part in the match.
It is also expected that Farnsworth will miss Balranald’s game against Lake Boga tomorrow afternoon.
No match day report was laid by the umpires against Helman, with the Kangas midfielder later charged with the dangerous tackle by the Match Review Panel.
Helman was then offered a two-week suspension on Tuesday night, with the Kangas deciding on Wednesday evening not to challenge the set penalty.
When asked by The Guardian yesterday about the circumstances surrounding the report, Central Rivers League Operations Manager Taylah Morris said “I spoke with Balranald and they didn’t want to refer it officially”. They were considering their options and they decided they weren’t going to refer it.” “I happened to be looking at a separate incident and noticed the tackle and then made the referral as the league manager” Morris stated.
The Match Review Panel was engaged and they made a recommendation.
From those recommendations the league then offered him (Helman) a two-week sanction.” Helman will be ineligible to play again until July 17th, when the Cohuna Kangas host Nyah-Nyah West United; and will miss tomorrow’s game against Swan Hill, as well as the Kangas match against Lake Boga on July 10th.
Cohuna also have the bye next weekend.
The Kangas won’t be the only team missing a star onballer this weekend through suspension, after the Mallee Eagles Zak Saad was also given a two-week suspension earlier this week.
Saad was reported for intentionally or carelessly striking another person in the Eagles 15-point loss to Kerang last Saturday.
Saad accepted the set two-week penalty for the offence, which occurred after the three-quarter time siren. Saad will be eligible to return for the Mallee Eagles rescheduled Round 8 game against Swan Hill on July 10th.
