Clear charge bid backfires

For Monaghan, the party’s over

COLAC co-captain Ryan Monaghan skipped the 80th birthday dinner of his only living grandmother so that he could fight to clear his name at the AFL Barwon tribunal.

Instead, the ball-winning midfielder had his one-match rough conduct suspension extended to two and will only play again this year if his Tigers make the grand final.

“I’m meant to be at my last living grandma’s 80th birthday, but I gave it up because I’m pretty certain that there was nothing wrong with what I did,” Monaghan said.

“You train for nine months to get to this position with your team and Colac was written off in about eighth at the start of the year. We’re really happy with where we’re at in making the semi-final, so to not be able to go into battle with the boys is really disappointing.”

Monaghan was reported by three umpires — Paul McEl- hinney, David Chaston and Jack O’Neill — who all gave consistent evidence that Monaghan dropped his right knee into the chest of Leopold’s Jesse Lothian.

All said they believed contact was “unreasonable” and “unnecessary” and of moderate force, and had clear views of the behind-the-ball incident.

It was not caught on video, although players remonstrated afterwards.

The pair had been scuffling at the top of the 50m line after Lothian came in to bump Monaghan in an effort to stop him from getting to stoppage in Leopold’s forward pocket.

The tribunal heard Lothian then went to ground and was lying on his back with Monaghan crouching over the top as the pair had hold of each other’s jumpers.

Monaghan told the tribunal his right leg was caught around Lothian’s armpit/elbow region and that he made accidental contact to Lothian’s ribs with his shin.

Lothian said he also con- tributed to the contact by rolling his body while Monaghan’s leg was still trapped underneath.

Monaghan said he thought he was getting a free kick for holding or tripping when umpire McElhinney came in to yellow card him.

“Three umpires giving evidence tonight, all separately in the room all gave accurate, concise evidence in relation to this incident, so getting down to the nuts and bolts, we actually accept their evidence and we accept in its totally,” AFL Barwon tribunal chairman Peter Murrihy said.

“The evidence from both players described as incident is somewhat different to what the umpires saw and we’ve got to make a decision on all of it, and we find the charge proven.”

Having unsuccessfully challenged a set penalty, the tribunal followed protocol by increasing the penalty to two matches.

It was Monaghan’s first report in his footy career.