Coleraine premiership player Trevor Row has been suspended for three games after being charged with headbutting Tyrendarra's Tye O'Connell in a South West District Football League game.
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Row, a former captain of the Maroons, pleaded not guilty at the AFL Western District tribunal held on Thursday, presided over by Ian Yewers, Robert Anderson and Paul Jones.
The incident occurred on April 6 when Tyrendarra hosted Coleraine in round one of the SWDFL season.
Umpire Neil Ball reported Row, who received a yellow card, in the third quarter, before a free kick and 50-metre penalty was paid to Tyrendarra.
Ball told the tribunal he had a "clear view" of the incident while standing in between 15 and 20 metres away.
O'Connell said the incident followed "pushing and shoving" between himself and Row. He rated the force of the impact a "five out of 10".
"It wasn't that forceful a contact, but the intent was there," O'Connell said.
"I was totally unprepared."
O'Connell said he didn't know what caused it.
Both O'Connell and Ball said Row went straight off the ground after the incident.
Row's advocate Josh McElgunn said the contact was unintentional.
McElgunn said Row had never been reported in his 172-game career with Coleraine and that this was his second ever yellow card.
Under the league's code the reportable offence of headbutting an opponent or making forceful contact to an opponent using the head must be heard by a tribunal.
League prosecutor David Watson argued for a five-week suspension.
Tyrendarra won the game by 44 points.
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