A COBDEN reserves player has been whacked with a 15-week ban for making contact with an umpire.
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Jacob Pekin was found guilty of unbecoming conduct for making contact with an umpire during the Bombers’ away match against Port Fairy on June 10.
No report was lodged by umpires on the day, but Port Fairy later requested an investigation into the incident, with the investigator finding Pekin had a case to answer before referring it to the tribunal.
AFL Western District senior operations manager Brad Pole said Pekin pleaded not guilty “on a technicality”, but admitted to making contact with umpire Scott Hetherington. The 15-week suspension was just one week short of the deregistration threshold, with Pekin’s clean record saving him.
Cobden club president Chris Walsh said the club was yet to decide to if it would lodge an appeal when contacted by The Standard but said it was “extremely disappointed” with the outcome for Pekin.