Darwin Buffalo Steven Anderson too late in submitting a not guilty plea

TIME ran out for Darwin Buffalo Steven Anderson in his attempt to contest a three-match ban for rough conduct.

The ban effectively took him past the 15-game national deregistration threshold, meaning the Buffaloes utility would be automatically deregistered and banned from playing for 12 months.

Anderson, through the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club, had submitted an early guilty plea as his response before the 9pm deadline on Tuesday night.

But the Buffaloes contacted the AFLNT Tribunal secretary on Wednesday morning to advise them Anderson wished to change his plea to not guilty, citing exceptional circumstances and new witness evidence.

This was followed up by written notification by 8:58am on Wednesday.

But a special meeting of the AFLNT Executive and follow-up advice from the AFL concluded that AFLNT does not have at the discretion to operate outside of its 2019 rules and regulations or the 2018 State and Territory tribunal Guidelines which govern all AFL-affiliated leagues in Australia.

Anderson was able to enter a plea to the charge and change that plea at any time before the 9pm deadline on Tuesday, but he is unable to change his plea after that time. Prior to that time he was also able to request a stay of leave to allow more time to gather material before entering a plea, but this did not happen.

In addition, Anderson, via the Darwin Buffaloes Football Club, received his most recent national deregistration warning letter on 12 December 2018, indicating he was sitting on 15-matches suspension and if he was to exceed that he would be de-registered.

A player/official who has been deregistered may not appeal their deregistration until at least 12 months after the date on which they were deregistered.

The Buffaloes issued the following statement at the time of accepting the early guilty plea on Tuesday night.

“The Darwin Buffaloes Football Club will continue to support Steven and will do everything we can to ensure that once the 12-month period of deregistration is complete, he will seek to be re-registered,’’ the statement said.

AFLNT will now commence steps to deregister Anderson as the prescribed penalty for his Round 16 rough conduct charge has placed him beyond the 15-game suspension threshold allowed under the national AFL policy.