Trent Harman has been suspended without playing a game for South Warrnambool this season.
SOUTH Warrnambool premiership player Trent Harman has been suspended for a week after being involved in an onfield stoush while volunteering as the club’s reserves goal umpire on Saturday.
Harman and Roosters’ reserves runner Ben Wolff have both accepted one-match bans after being involved in a fracas at the end of the first quarter in Saturday’s reserves match against Camperdown at Friendly Societies’ Park.
In a triple hit for the reigning premier, senior playing coach Matthew Peake was reported by a goal umpire for allegedly striking Camperdown veteran Aaron Sinnott in the final term of the main match.
Hampden Football Netball League chief executive officer Mike Farrow said late yesterday the reporting umpire had deemed Peake’s charge serious and had not offered a set penalty.
Peake is expected to front the league’s independent tribunal tomorrow night.
Farrow said Harman’s suspension came after he was relieved of his umpiring duties at quarter-time on the advice of the central umpires. Wolff had been effectively yellow carded and was not able to run messages for 15 minutes once play resumed.
Farrow said the officiating central umpires, representatives of both clubs, had reported the pair and offered them a set penalty of a week each.
Harman, who originally signed with Warrnambool and District league club Merrivale in the off-season after being a key member of South Warrnambool’s 2011 premiership team, had earlier this year moved to Queensland AFL side Cairns, where he was appointed vice-captain.
But after two games, South Warrnambool club president Gary Walsh said Harman had become homesick and returned two weeks ago.
Walsh said Harman’s clearance from Cairns would be granted once the suspension had been served. He said the defender would be eligible for Roosters selection in round six when they meet Koroit.
Walsh said Harman would have played on Saturday had the club been able to secure a day clearance, but the QAFL and HFNL don’t have an agreement for such an arrangement.
“He’ll just have to wait a week,” Walsh said.