BY – JACKSON CLARK
Daniel Motlop’s football career was on a knife’s edge this week after he copped a nine-game suspension from the Northern Territory Football League tribunal on Wednesday.
The suspension pushed the former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide forward over the 16-game threshold that under nation-wide rules would result in a life ban.
He was also ordered to undertake anger management counselling.
Motlop received a prescribed penalty of six weeks for making front on contact to St Marys’ Henry Labastida but this was upgraded to eight after pleading not-guilty at the tribunal.
He was offered two weeks suspension for a separate striking incident involving defender John Anstess in the third term, which was later downgraded to a week.
The mercurial forward already had four goals to his name and was one of the most damaging players on the ground before he was sent from the field during the third quarter.
Ultimately it was a technicality in the rules that saved Motlop’s career. Under AFL rules a player must be sent a warning letter after passing a total of 10 games suspension.
Motlop has found himself in trouble with the NTFL tribunal on numerous occasions since ending his 130-game AFL career. He also found himself in strife with the umpires in the River Murray Football League in South Australia this season.
Motlop is still a chance to play in the NTFL again this season if a few circumstances go his way.
If Wanderers finish top three as expected, they will need to lose one final on their way to making the grand final for him to play.
Twitter – @JClark182
About Jackson Clark
Born and bred in Darwin, Northern Territory, I am a young, aspiring football writer that lives and breathes the game of Australian Football. I'm also a keen player and coach.
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Hi Jackson
What’s the deal with Motlop? Is he being targetted or is he snapping? Were you at this particular game? Nine weeks! Is Labastida okay?
Cheers
Yeah mate I play football for St Marys. Motlop has been cited by the umpires at least five times in his approximately 20 or so games back in the NTFL. Under the interpretation of the rule, I would have thought the original six week prescribed penalty sounded right. Labastida was done for the match after the hit and will miss a couple of weeks with concussion.
There is footage of the incident on this page:
https://www.facebook.com/ntfootball
Motlop…
Mercurial without consistency. Left North in acrimonious circumstances and we didn’t miss him.
Port won’t either.
Such a shame he didn’t fulfill his potential, but that can be said for so many players…
Love your NT Football facebook page, Jackson. Great stuff. I will check it regularly. I would even ‘like’ it if I could be bothered registering for facethingame.
I wish the AFL Tribunal was as tough on the reckless head high stuff – he would have got 2 or 3 in the AFL.
I’m sending you a warning letter Jackson. Motlop’s issues should be limited to a paragraph near the end.
I want to know about the NTFL from week to week. Who’s kicking the goals, who’s starring etc. Who’s on top of the ladder?