Star Baldivis midfielder Eddy Dann will miss this weekend’s showdown with South Mandurah and his side’s first final after being handed a two week suspension by the Peel Football and Netball League tribunal on Thursday night.
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The 2013 Ross Elliott medalist – who boasts a relatively clean record at the tribunal outside of the incident – pleaded not guilty to striking Pinjarra’s Rob Beswick in their top-two battle last Saturday afternoon, but was handed the two-game ban after being found guilty.
The incident occurred during the three quarter time break when tempers boiled over sparking a melee between the two sides.
Peel Football and Netball League chairman Barry Butterworth said evidence provided by the match umpires led to the guilty verdict.
The result means the Brumbies will be without their midfield/forward star in this weekend’s final regular season game against South Mandurah, and he will also miss their first final.
That looks likely to be the first week of finals (against either Centrals or Rockingham).
But there remains a slim chance that it may come in the second week of finals with Baldivis’ hopes of claiming the minor premiership and a week off hinging on Mandurah pulling off the upset of the season against Pinjarra.
Fortunately for Dann it won’t be his last game of the season, with Baldivis having already assured themselves a top-two spot and a second chance in the finals.
Baldivis will also have the option to appeal the sentence.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
