Cutters get behind Lock
New South Cairns coach John Tootell says his club is “100 per cent” behind veteran Daniel Lock returning to play in AFL Cairns after serving his nineweek ban. Lock, who was arrested in June of last year and charged with grievous bodily harm after breaking the jaw of Cairns Saints midfielder Riley McCall, returned to the Cutters line-up on Good Friday and kicked five goals in the defeat.
NEW South Cairns coach John Tootell says his club is “100 per cent” behind veteran Daniel Lock returning to play in AFL Cairns after serving his nine-week ban.
Lock, who was arrested in June of last year and charged with grievous bodily harm after breaking the jaw of Cairns Saints midfielder Riley McCall, returned to the Cutters line-up on Good Friday and kicked five goals in the defeat.
Lock appeared in the Cairns Magistrates Court in July of last year and the case remains before the court.
The South Cairns veteran pleaded guilty at the AFL Cairns tribunal to striking McCall in an alleged off-theball incident during a game at Fretwell Park and was banned for nine weeks last season.
Tootell, who is in his first season as senior coach at Fretwell Park, backed Lock to return to the game.
“Daniel has been a part of this football club for a long, long time. He and I worked together back in 2014 when I was first at the club,” Tootell said.
“The court stuff, that is something that is outside of football for others and Daniel to deal with.
“We sat down and had a conversation to see where he was at in his life at the moment and we said we were 100 per cent behind him to play footy if he wants.
“He has been here for 20 years, he has played around 300 games for the club and played in a grand final as a teenager and is well respected around our football club.
“He played well, he kicked a few goals against Port Douglas.”
McCall, who had to undergo surgery on a jaw broken in three places and needed dental reconstruction, also returned to football in Round 1 of the 2018 season, featuring for Saints in their victory over Centrals Trinity Beach on Thursday night.