Peel Thunder will be without premiership forward Blair Bell for five weeks after he was handed a lengthy ban for breaking the jaw of Subiaco’s Aaron Heal in a thriller between the sides last weekend.
Bell pleaded not guilty after the WAFL tribunal offered him a four-match ban for striking Heal with a raised elbow in the dying minutes of Peel’s four-point loss to the Lions last Saturday.
But tribunal chairman Alan Moroni rejected the South Mandurah product’s defence, labeling his action intentional and constituting severe impact.
As a result, Bell’s stint on the sidelines was extended to five weeks, meaning he will be available for selection when the Thunder next take on Subiaco in round 18.
The issue was directed straight to the WAFL tribunal after video evidence was viewed by the match review panel.
A statement from the WAFL said the incident was assessed as intentional conduct, severe impact and high contact.
Bell had no bad record which impacted the penalty.
The physical forward has been a key cog for Peel Thunder over the last two seasons, and played in their premiership win over Subiaco in 2016.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
