Water boy gets 14 weeks

A BRIGHTON Football Club water boy reported for attacking an umpire has been suspended for 14 weeks.

The 17-year-old was suspended at last night’s Southern Football League tribunal after being found to have both squirted and struck a field umpire during a colts match between the Robins and Cygnet (Southern Storm) on Saturday.

The water boy told the Mercury he was handed two separate charges for spraying water in the umpire’s face, and for hitting him in the mouth with a bottle during the under-18s match at Cygnet.

However, the teenager, an injured Brighton player, last night maintained his innocence.

“There were a few sparks going on ... and I got in between my brother and an op- ponent and felt someone come up behind me and grab me,” he said.

“I pointed the water bottle at him but I did not squeeze it. I did not strike him.”

It is understood Brighton will speak to the teenager today about a possible appeal against the suspension. Brighton club president Peter Spotswood could not be contacted last night.

SFL president Madeleine Ogilvie said she had not yet received the tribunal report and would not comment until she had more information.

The incident comes as the Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League prepares to wrap up investigations into incidents during an under-14 game last month, with four people to front the tribunal today.

The investigation into the match between New Norfolk and Lindisfarne at Tynwald Park, New Norfolk, in June resulted in five league charges.

It was alleged a Lindisfarne player was struck on the field by the parent of a New Norfolk player soon after the game ended.

Of four tribunal hearings to be held, AFL Tasmania said one charge featured an adult. One case has been heard and a player received a two-match suspension.

Last season, there were two serious incidents involving umpires.

An under-16s match between Glenorchy and Sandy Bay was called off after an umpire landed on the ground during an altercation in April.

In May, umpires at an under-13s match between the Pies and Huonville locked themselves inside the change rooms and the police were called.