GBH footballer gets six week ban

Collie Eagles Football Club captain Matt Blackford has been suspended for the first six weeks of the South West Football League season for striking former Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault midfielder Aaron Murphy.

The tribunal reduced the eight week penalty to six weeks because Blackford pleaded guilty to the striking charge at a hearing at the SWFL headquarters last night.

Blackford was last month convicted of grievous bodily harm by a Busselton District Court jury for kneeing Murphy to the face during the second quarter of a game between the two clubs in 2013.

The strike left Murphy with a fractured jaw, broken cheek and eye socket and ended his professional career.

Two SWFL umpires and two HBL players gave evidence in front of tribunal chairman Kelvin Fisher last night, all claiming Blackford stopped Murphy from getting up before kneeing him in the face.

Murphy said he still suffers headaches from the incident and lost income because of the injuries as he was unable to work.

The Collie Eagles attempted to have the suspension suspended, but Mr Fisher rejected this because of the seriousness of the strike.

Blackford will not be able to play until the club’s round seven clash against Busselton.

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