EARLY McLeod Medal front-runner Josh Dean will be ineligible to win the Sunraysia Football and Netball League (SFNL) best and fairest award after being suspended on Wednesday night.
The Mildura midfielder and Wentworth counterpart Phil Byrnes were both given one-match sanctions for striking during Saturday’s clash at George Gordon Oval.
After being reported for striking each other during the first quarter of the contest by boundary umpire Alan Baker, Dean and Byrnes both pleaded not guilty to the charge. The SFNL Independent Tribunal, however, chose to suspend them for a game each.
Dean will miss Mildura’s contest with South Mildura tomorrow, while Byrnes will be unavailable for Wentworth’s road trip to Underbool to face Ouyen United.
As reported earlier this week, Robinvale Euston’s Mario Chirchiglia was reported for striking South Mildura’s Joseph Zappia during the first quarter of the reserves game at Sarah Oval.
Chirchiglia applied for the set penalty of two matches as outlined in the Notice of Report which was accepted. Subsequently, he is unavailable for selection for rounds 4 and 5.
