Veteran Sydney midfielder Luke Parker should serve a six-week ban for the heavy bump in a VFL recreation that hospitalised opponent Josh Smith.
Parker has not performed any AFL soccer for the Swans this season and the suspension means he won’t break again into their senior group till nicely into July, on the earliest.
The VFL might have suspended him for 4 video games, however referred Parker on to the tribunal for the incident final Friday evening whereas he was taking part in for the Swans’ reserves aspect.
In handing down the penalty, tribunal chairman Tim Bourke mentioned Parker had failed in his obligation of care to Smith.
“We weigh up the matters … the incident being off the ball, unforeseen by Smith, causing injuries likely to result in surgery and 10 weeks missed games by Smith,” Bourke mentioned.
“(It) brings the tribunal to the conclusion this was not at the lower end of carelessness.
“It’s the totality of the incident which finally settles the sanction to be imposed by the tribunal.”
Sydney pleaded guilty, arguing instead during Tuesday night’s lengthy hearing against the severity of his penalty.
Smith was hospitalised after Parker ran past the ball and the incident was graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.
Swans advocate Nick Kidd used GPS data to argue Parker was barely at walking speed when he bumped Smith, to block him from the next contest.
Kidd also argued that given Parker had only been suspended once previously in his lengthy AFL career, that warranted a discount on this ban.
But Bourke said Parker had “some 9 sanctions”, adding “we discover he isn’t a participant that qualifies as a verifiable instance of exemplary disciplinary historical past.”
Kidd used a series of still images from the video footage to contend Smith’s injuries were from an accidental clash of heads, immediately after Parker had bumped him.
The medical report said Smith has concussion and facial fractures, plus he will need surgery.
He is expected to be sidelined for 10 weeks.
In his evidence, Parker said he had contacted Smith to apologise and check on his welfare.
“It was no intention of mine to make contact together with his head,” Parker said.
But VFL advocate Morgan McLay argued Parker had breached his duty of care to Smith in the incident and deserved the six-week ban.
“There’s a transparent want to guard the pinnacle. Everyone’s worst fears have occurred,” McLay said of the injuries to Smith.
Parker had been unable to return to the Sydney AFL side since recovering from injury a month ago.
He has played 283 senior games for the Swans and received support earlier on Tuesday from coach John Longmire.
“If you take a look at it actually intently, he went to dam a participant and shepherd a participant that was coming by and bought it unsuitable,” Longmire mentioned.
“He went to dam and he really wasn’t shifting, he was stationary on the level of contact. He did not go excessive, sadly it did not work out the best way that he supposed it to do.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
