Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Castlemaine senior coach Shane Robertson was hit with a three-match ban at Friday night’s sitting of the Bendigo Football Netball League’s independent tribunal.
Robertson was found guilty of behaving in an abusive, threatening, insulting or obscene manner towards or in relation to an umpire at half-time of last Saturday’s match against Golden Square.
A coach for 25 years, Robertson pleaded not guilty at the hearing held at the AFL Central Victoria Hub’s headquarters in Mundy Street, Bendigo.
Robertson was booked by four umpires and another central umpire was a witness.
In their evidence, the umpires all said Robertson approached them as they headed off the field at half-time.
They all agreed the coaches comments were directed at central umpire John Norton.
A central umpire in 180 senior games, Norton said the incident was a first.
“It has never happened to me before,” he said during questioning.
All five umpires said they felt threatened by Robertson’s aggressive tone in his voice.
Robertson denied he swore at the umpires.
“There were no swear words at all,” Robertson said of his conversation with the umpires.
“We were two goals up and had played our best half of the footy for the season.
“I was not frustrated.”
Umpires’ advocate Eric Baker said the officiating umpires clearly felt threatened by the language and words directed at them.
Tribunal chairman Terry Kennedy said the panel was in a difficult position as it could suspend a coach, but not stop them being at the ground.
Under the penalty, Robertson cannot enter the field of play, be in the coaches box or on the boundary line for any reason in the next three matches Castlemaine contests.
Castlemaine plays at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve on Saturday.
The Castlemaine Football Netball Club was fined $500, of which $250 was suspended.
“Umpires are not to be abused in any way, shape or form,” the chairman said.
