Sydney Swans veteran Luke Parker cops six-game suspension for VFL bump that hospitalised opponent

Veteran Sydney midfielder Luke Parker should handover a six-week oppose for a obese bump in a VFL tournament that hospitalised opponent Josh Smith.

Parker has now not performed any AFL soccer for the Swans this season and the postponed manner he’s going to now not crack again into their senior crew till neatly into July, on the earliest.

The VFL will have suspended him for 4 video games however referred Parker at once to the tribunal for the incident closing Friday evening week he was once taking part in for the Swans’ reserves facet in opposition to the Frankston Dolphins.

In handing ailing the penalty, tribunal chairman Tim Bourke mentioned Parker had failed in his responsibility of offer to Smith.

“We weigh up the matters … the incident being off the ball, unforeseen by Smith, causing injuries likely to result in surgery and 10 weeks missed games by Smith,” Bourke mentioned.

“[It] brings the tribunal to the conclusion this was not at the lower end of carelessness.

“It’s the totality of the incident which in the long run settles the sanction to be imposed through the tribunal.”

Sydney pleaded guilty, arguing instead during Tuesday night’s lengthy hearing against the severity of his penalty.

Smith was hospitalised after Parker ran past the ball and the incident was graded as careless conduct, severe impact and high contact.

Swans advocate Nick Kidd used GPS data to argue Parker was barely at walking speed when he bumped Smith, to block him from the next contest.

Kidd also argued that given Parker had only been suspended once previously in his lengthy AFL career, that warranted a discount on this ban.

But Bourke said Parker had “some 9 sanctions”, adding: “We discover he’s now not a participant that qualifies as a verifiable instance of exemplary disciplinary historical past.”

Kidd used a series of still images from the video footage to contend Smith’s injuries were from an accidental clash of heads, immediately after Parker had bumped him.

The clinical record mentioned Smith had concussion and facial fractures, plus he would wish surgical procedure. He’s anticipated to be sidelined for 10 weeks.

In his evidence, Parker said he had contacted Smith to apologise and check on his welfare.

“It was once deny goal of mine to create touch along with his head,” Parker said.

But VFL advocate Morgan McLay argued Parker had breached his duty of care to Smith in the incident and deserved the six-week ban.

“There’s a cloudless want to give protection to the pinnacle. Everybody’s worst fears have came about,” McLay said of the injuries to Smith.

Parker had been unable to return to the Sydney AFL side since recovering from injury a month ago.

He has played 283 senior games for the Swans and received support earlier on Tuesday from coach John Longmire.

“In case you have a look at it in reality intently, he going to restrain a participant and shepherd a participant that was once coming thru and were given it improper,” Longmire mentioned.

“He going to restrain and he if truth be told wasn’t transferring, he was once desk bound on the level of touch. He didn’t exit prime, sadly, it didn’t determine the best way that he meant it to do.”

AAP