Roberts may face life ban
.Picture: SUPPLIED MANUNDA Hawks on-baller Jordan Roberts is facing a second life ban from playing when he eventually fronts the AFL Cairns tribunal.
In early 2018 while playing in Tasmania, Roberts was suspended for two matches for a dangerous tackle, pushing him past the 16-match career suspension mark and automatic deregistration from the game.
He successfully appealed his life ban earlier this year through AFL Queensland and has featured for Manunda since late June.
He has been in brown and gold on four occasions, named in their best players three times, before he was reported for an incident against Cairns City Lions on Saturday afternoon.
Under the AFL’s rules, if Roberts is to be suspended again following an offence during a game, he would receive another life ban.
Roberts was set to face the tribunal on Tuesday evening but could not attend due to work commitments. AFL Cairns are yet to schedule a new date for the hearing.
“He will sit at tribunal and have his hearing when he available,” AFL Cairns’ Craig Lees said.
“Until the case is heard, he cannot play, but he still has the right to a fair hearing.”
Roberts had a running battle with a Lions opponent for much of Saturday afternoon’s game at Holloways Beach.
The majority of Roberts’ accumulated suspensions have occurred while playing in Tasmania or Brisbane.
He played in an AFL Cairns premiership with Saints in 2015 before returning to Tasmania, and has since joined Hawks.