Sydney’s Luke Parker fails bid to downgrade six-game ban at VFL Appeals Board

Sydney Swans’ Luke Parker Fails Bid to Downgrade Bump Ban

Sydney Swans player Luke Parker has faced disappointment as his last-ditch attempt to downgrade a six-game bump ban was rejected by the VFL Appeals Board. The Swans argued that the VFL Tribunal made an error of law when they increased Parker’s suspension from four games to six following a collision with Frankston’s Josh Smith.

The main point of contention in the appeal was around the level of carelessness exhibited by Parker during the incident. The Swans compared Parker’s bump to a pre-season hit by St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster, which resulted in a seven-game ban. The AFL Tribunal had described Webster’s hit as being on the “highest end of carelessness,” but the Swans disputed this characterization, arguing that Parker’s actions were on the lower end of the spectrum.

Despite the Swans’ arguments, the VFL Appeals Board upheld the Tribunal’s decision, stating that the Tribunal had considered all relevant factors in its determination of the six-game suspension. The Board emphasized that the carelessness displayed by Parker was not at the lower level, as claimed by the Swans, and that the ban was not excessively harsh to warrant being overturned.

During the appeal, Swans lawyer Duncan Miller highlighted the club’s appeal on the basis of an error of law by the VFL Tribunal. He argued that the Tribunal had erred in considering the severity of the injury and impact in its assessment of carelessness, rather than focusing solely on the level of carelessness exhibited by Parker.

Despite seeking a reduction to a four-game ban, the Swans’ appeal was unsuccessful. The VFL Tribunal maintained that Parker’s actions warranted a six-game suspension due to the high contact and severe impact on Smith, who suffered multiple fractures to his eye socket and cheekbone.

Overall, the VFL Appeals Board found that the Tribunal had acted within its rights in imposing the six-game ban and had not made an error of law in its decision-making process. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of player safety and the consequences of on-field actions in professional sports.