Biting ban for Tyrone star in Oz
A REMORSEFUL Conor Mckenna has been banned for three AFL matches after pleading guilty to biting a Western Bulldogs player.
The Tyrone-born Essendon ace was handed only the third AFL biting suspension since 1991 for biting Tory Dickson’s neck.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and I am sorry for what I have done,” Mckenna said after a tribunal hearing yesterday.
“I’m just looking forward to moving on now and getting over the decision.”
A lack of definitive video evidence as well as Mckenna’s guilty plea reduced his sentence from a maximum of four matches down to three.
Former Kerry and
Sydney Swans footballer Tadhg Kennelly acted as a character witness on behalf of his fellow Irishman and said he was a “grounded” player that “plays the game in the right way”.
The case has shocked the AFL community in Australia. Dickson testified that he felt a “quick nip to his neck” when the pair wrestled each other to the ground during last Sunday’s game.
Meanwhile, Mayo man Pearce Hanley will miss a significant chunk of the season after re-injuring his dislocated shoulder on his comeback last weekend.
Gold Coast Suns operations manager Jon Haines said yesterday: “He has had a scan. It’s not a great result for Pearce. Surgery is looking the likely option.
“We’re expecting him, as a member of the leadership group, to play an integral role for the rest of the team through the year. He’s got a real interest from a coaching perspective.”