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Essendon’s Paul Barnard has received a one-match ban for striking Carlton’s Simon Wiggins, adding to his club’s woes as it faces an important round four encounter against the Western Bulldogs with an undermanned side.
Tribunal chairman Brian Collis, QC, found Barnard had committed an “unnecessary off the ball act” of “reasonable force” to Wiggins’s midriff.
Barnard pleaded guilty to the charge, made on the spot by umpire Brett Allen during the third quarter, but claimed he swiped at Wiggins under provocation.
The incident occurred before a centre bounce, and left Wiggins crouched down and winded on the centre square while his opponent ran in to contest the ball.
Wiggins and Barnard were jostling on the square before Barnard, who has now been suspended for striking three times in his 10th season of AFL football, used his right arm to contact Wiggins’s stomach.
“The blow was reasonably forceful,” umpire Allen told the tribunal.
Barnard said he and Wiggins had bumped each other three times, and that he expected Wiggins would have moved forward to avoid his final knock.
“I expected him to move forward like he had the previous two times,” Barnard said.
“My sole intention was to get him off me at that time, for the third time.”
Barnard denied he had used his fist to make the contact.
“I just felt some contact to the side of my stomach and felt a little bit winded,” Wiggins said.
afl.com.au
WE ARE GONE
Tribunal chairman Brian Collis, QC, found Barnard had committed an “unnecessary off the ball act” of “reasonable force” to Wiggins’s midriff.
Barnard pleaded guilty to the charge, made on the spot by umpire Brett Allen during the third quarter, but claimed he swiped at Wiggins under provocation.
The incident occurred before a centre bounce, and left Wiggins crouched down and winded on the centre square while his opponent ran in to contest the ball.
Wiggins and Barnard were jostling on the square before Barnard, who has now been suspended for striking three times in his 10th season of AFL football, used his right arm to contact Wiggins’s stomach.
“The blow was reasonably forceful,” umpire Allen told the tribunal.
Barnard said he and Wiggins had bumped each other three times, and that he expected Wiggins would have moved forward to avoid his final knock.
“I expected him to move forward like he had the previous two times,” Barnard said.
“My sole intention was to get him off me at that time, for the third time.”
Barnard denied he had used his fist to make the contact.
“I just felt some contact to the side of my stomach and felt a little bit winded,” Wiggins said.
afl.com.au
WE ARE GONE