O'Connor out for four matches

O’Connor pleaded not guilty to a charge of unbecoming conduct in that he had allegedly intentionally, recklessly and negligently struck South Warrnambool captain Danny Finn to the back and face in the second quarter of the clubs’ match at Friendly Societies’ Park on July 10.

The decision is a huge blow to the Bloods' premiership aspiration.

With only one game left in the home and away season, it means O'Connor can only play again this year if Terang Mortlake play every week of the final series and make the grand final.

Finn told the hearing that he was on his hands and knees reaching for the ball when he was knocked in the back and left flat on the ground.

He said he had also received a hit to the right-side of the nose. He told the tribunal he thought he had been hit in the back with a knee.

“I had on idea, with the force of it, I thought it was a knee.”

Finn said he did not know who had made contact but when he tried to get up from the ground, he saw teammate Joe Dalton remonstrating with O’Connor.

O’Connor told the tribunal he had no recollection of any incident involving himself and Finn. He said he had given the matter a lot of thought but he could not identify any incident.

Under cross examination from Finn’s advocate Kevin Mullins, O’Connor said the allegations and evidence presented were fictitious.

Finn revealed he was hoping to lead the Roosters on Saturday after missing the past five weeks with two fractured vertebrae and bruised kidneys.