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Holland's guilty plea earns two-match ban
7:04:14 PM Tue 26 August, 2003
Samantha Lane
afl.com.au
Collingwood?s Brodie Holland will miss one final, after receiving a two-match suspension for striking Sydney?s Paul Williams to the face.
The Magpie tagger, who was an emergency throughout his side?s 2002 finals campaign and has never played in a final, will now wait anxiously as his side attempts to claim a top four spot and qualify to play in the second week in September. It that case, he would also have to reclaim his position in the side.
Holland pleaded guilty to the video charge, laid by umpire Matthew James following Saturday night?s match at Telstra Stadium, but claimed his blow was a retaliation to a strike the Sydney player had dealt him.
It is the third time in six seasons that Holland, 23, has been found guilty of striking, and the second occasion this year.
Collingwood mounted an extensive case, which the tribunal panel deliberated over for about ten minutes, and argued Holland?s obvious strike was an automatic reaction to the unwarranted attention from Williams.
The video evidence of the incident showed Holland making contact with Williams with a swinging right arm, in what tribunal chairman Brian Collis, QC, described as an ?off the ball? incident.
?We find that the reaction was an intentional and forceful blow, and although the contact may have been glancing, it was out of proportion to what preceded it,? Collis said.
Collingwood played an extended, edited video package of the confrontation and enhanced the vision of Williams? alleged initial strike. However Holland?s player advocate Sean Carroll did not question the Sydney player about his supposedly provoking strike.
Umpire James told the tribunal he saw blood on Holland?s lip at the quarter time break, when he warned the Magpie against making high contact with Williams? neck region.
Holland said he felt ashamed of the incident but that he had been aggrieved by Williams? contact.
?I got a blow to the jaw and in an instant reaction I threw my arm back then.?
?Even after the incident I thought I probably shouldn?t have done that. But I didn?t hurt the player and it was nothing too untoward,? he said.
?I?m embarrassed about what I did and that?s not usually how I play the game.?
Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse provided a character reference for the former Fremantle player, and said he was ?shocked and dismayed? by the media?s portrayal of Holland in the lead-up to the case.
?This man is playing for his life skills as much as his football skills.?
?I would hate to think that a young man?s progress in finals is halted by a rash action,? Malthouse said.
Williams told the tribunal he could not recall the incident, but felt no ill-effects after the match.
?I felt some contact and it was enough to fall to the ground and then I got up and remonstrated,? he said via-a video link-up.
Holland was suspended for two matches in 1998 after striking Sydney?s Daryn Cresswell, and missed round two this year after receiving a one-match ban for striking Greg Stafford.
Holland's guilty plea earns two-match ban
7:04:14 PM Tue 26 August, 2003
Samantha Lane
afl.com.au
Collingwood?s Brodie Holland will miss one final, after receiving a two-match suspension for striking Sydney?s Paul Williams to the face.
The Magpie tagger, who was an emergency throughout his side?s 2002 finals campaign and has never played in a final, will now wait anxiously as his side attempts to claim a top four spot and qualify to play in the second week in September. It that case, he would also have to reclaim his position in the side.
Holland pleaded guilty to the video charge, laid by umpire Matthew James following Saturday night?s match at Telstra Stadium, but claimed his blow was a retaliation to a strike the Sydney player had dealt him.
It is the third time in six seasons that Holland, 23, has been found guilty of striking, and the second occasion this year.
Collingwood mounted an extensive case, which the tribunal panel deliberated over for about ten minutes, and argued Holland?s obvious strike was an automatic reaction to the unwarranted attention from Williams.
The video evidence of the incident showed Holland making contact with Williams with a swinging right arm, in what tribunal chairman Brian Collis, QC, described as an ?off the ball? incident.
?We find that the reaction was an intentional and forceful blow, and although the contact may have been glancing, it was out of proportion to what preceded it,? Collis said.
Collingwood played an extended, edited video package of the confrontation and enhanced the vision of Williams? alleged initial strike. However Holland?s player advocate Sean Carroll did not question the Sydney player about his supposedly provoking strike.
Umpire James told the tribunal he saw blood on Holland?s lip at the quarter time break, when he warned the Magpie against making high contact with Williams? neck region.
Holland said he felt ashamed of the incident but that he had been aggrieved by Williams? contact.
?I got a blow to the jaw and in an instant reaction I threw my arm back then.?
?Even after the incident I thought I probably shouldn?t have done that. But I didn?t hurt the player and it was nothing too untoward,? he said.
?I?m embarrassed about what I did and that?s not usually how I play the game.?
Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse provided a character reference for the former Fremantle player, and said he was ?shocked and dismayed? by the media?s portrayal of Holland in the lead-up to the case.
?This man is playing for his life skills as much as his football skills.?
?I would hate to think that a young man?s progress in finals is halted by a rash action,? Malthouse said.
Williams told the tribunal he could not recall the incident, but felt no ill-effects after the match.
?I felt some contact and it was enough to fall to the ground and then I got up and remonstrated,? he said via-a video link-up.
Holland was suspended for two matches in 1998 after striking Sydney?s Daryn Cresswell, and missed round two this year after receiving a one-match ban for striking Greg Stafford.
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