Lock out for nine after hit on Saint
SOUTH Cairns veteran Daniel Lock’s AFL Cairns season is all but over after he was handed a nine-week suspension at the tribunal on Tuesday night.
Lock, a former coach of the Cutters and incumbent coach of the Cairns All Stars representative team, pleaded guilty to striking young Saints midfielder Riley McCall in their Round 11 contest last Saturday at Fretwell Park.
McCall had surgery on Monday to repair his jaw, which was broken in three places in the incident.
The incident happened behind play in the first term of the game, which the Cutters won, as Lock was reported by the goal umpire.
Cutters playing-coach Cameron Campbell said Lock was “remorseful” for his actions. “We are shattered that he will miss nine weeks of football,” Campbell said.
“As a club, we wish Riley all the best in the recovery.
“Daniel will cop the suspension, he has been a huge part of the club for a very long time.”
The incident went unnoticed by much of the crowd at Fretwell Park.
McCall is not expected to play again this season for Saints and will need reconstructive work on his teeth.
“We feel sorry for Riley, he is unemployed now as he was set to start a new job as an apprentice plumber on Monday and could not front up,” Cairns Saints president Stephen McIntosh said.
“We are disappointed with the outcome, Riley cannot play again this year and we feel Daniel’s suspension should match that.”
Lock, who has spent most of his football life at Fretwell Park, is relocating to Brisbane in the coming weeks.