TIGERS TO DECIDE: COP BAN OR FORK OUT FOR DAWSON
TORQUAY will decide today whether to challenge a seasonending suspension handed to midfield star Jesse Dawson.
The Tigers yesterday confirmed they would explore all avenues of appeal before deciding whether to accept Dawson’s three-match ban for striking.
Dawson, an important cog in Torquay’s midfield, was dealt a crushing blow on Tuesday night when he was found guilty of a forearm strike to the neck of Barwon Heads’ Jason Kerby in Saturday’s top-three BFL clash at Spring Creek Reserve.
Dawson was offered a twomatch sanction by the match review panel on Monday, but opted to roll the dice.
The penalty rules him out of the Tigers’ flag race, with his side only able to play a maximum of three matches in the finals after claiming the minor premiership.
Torquay’s board met last night to weigh up its decision ahead of today’s 2pm deadline.
“We’re disappointed with the result and we’re taken aback a bit,” Tigers football manager Kieran O’Dwyer said. “We’ll look at all our options.”
Should the club appeal, it will have to fork out a four-figure sum to take the matter further.
Armed with Geelong police Inspector Gary Bruce as his advocate on Tuesday night, Daw- son pleaded not guilty to the charge of intentionally striking Kerby in the second quarter. Video footage showed Kerby dish off a handpass before copping a forearm to the neck from Dawson, who came at him front on.
“I wasn’t expecting contact and I got contact to the neck, jaw area,” Kerby told the tribunal, which comprised Peter Murrihy (chairman), Rob Sodomaco and Werner Weigl.
Kerby rated the hit a “7-8” out of 10, admitting he did not have a chance to “brace for contact”. He received treatment to his neck at halftime, revealing he felt “stiff and sore”.
Under cross examination from Bruce, Kerby said he also would have chosen to block if he was in Dawson’s shoes.
“I would do that (block) but I’d lay a bump instead of throwing an arm out,” Kerby said.
Bruce questioned the severity of the strike, asking Kerby if he finished the game on the field.
“I was best on (ground), you know that,” Kerby said.
The former South Barwon premiership player then took exception to Bruce’s claims that he “milked it”.
“I don’t milk things, mate,” Kerby angrily stated.
“I broke my back and I kept playing, so I’m not that type of player.”
When giving evidence, Dawson stated he tried to block Kerby’s run, then he heard a whistle and the free kick was paid.
“I thought I just pushed him to the front of the chest,” Dawson said.
“Until I saw the footage, I didn’t know I got him high. He’s a tough player but at the time I thought he milked (it).
“I never intended to hurt him.”
Asked by AFL Barwon prosecutor Arthur Hodgson if he would have accepted a lowergrade charge of careless by the match review panel, Dawson replied: “Possibly”.
Bruce asked the tribunal for leniency, given Torquay faced the prospect of playing in just two finals.
“In real terms, this is one of a few opportunities for him (Dawson) to play in a grand final team,” Bruce said.
“Any suspension is dramatic, and in relation to this incident, the Barwon Heads player continued on and was best-onground and I’d suggest a twoweek suspension would be extreme.
“I ask that part of that suspension be suspended.”
In deliberation, Murrihy said the tribunal would not offer Dawson a reprieve based on the club’s coming finals campaign.
“If this happened in Round 2, we would treat that the same as tonight’s situation,” Murrihy said.