Matt Campbell and Dion Munkara banned at league tribunal

THE Darwin Buffaloes are considering appealing the league tribunal’s decision to uphold a three-week ban on playing coach Matt Campbell for engaging in rough play.

Campbell contested the match review panel’s decision to impose the ban at last night’s tribunal after clashing with St Mary’s opponent Ben Rioli in last Friday night’s game at Marrara.

Player advocate Dave McGinlay told the NT News immediately after the penalty was handed down that the club would reserve any decision to appeal.

“We’ll take this back to a club level to discuss the result and we’ll make a decision as to what we are going to do,’’ he said.

But the one-hour hearing ended in disappointment for the former North Melbourne forward.

Player advocate Dave McGinlay argued the third quarter clash that saw both players go to ground had been instigated by the St Mary’s player and denied suggestions Campbell’s hands on Rioli’s throat had threatened to choke him.

Field umpire Andrew Pietzsch and Rioli gave evidence to the tribunal, Pietzsch using the word reflexive when describing Campbell’s response to Rioli’s sudden intervention in the third quarter incident that involved Campbell and a group of players.

Rioli said he had felt Campbell’s hands on his throat, though the pressure the player applied was not severe.

But tribunal chairman Marty Aust and his panel decided the circumstances were unreasonable and the incident classed as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact would stand.

In other tribunal news, Tiwi Bomber Dion Munkara will miss his side’s next two matches despite pleading not guilty to a striking charge involving Nightcliff opponent Blake Grewar.

Munkara said any contact with Grewar had been unintentional despite the Nightcliff player saying he felt some contact behind his left ear.

Aust said the tribunal’s opinion was that an exceptional circumstance existed in that the offence was committed in response to provocation.

“And having consideration to all the relevant circumstances, it would have been unreasonable to impose a sanction of any other than a two match sanction,” was his summary.