Six-week playing suspension for coach

Donnybrook reserves playing coach Clint Hewson has been suspended for six weeks after he was found guilty of intentionally striking South Bunbury player Adrian Wasilew when he faced the South West Football League tribunal on Tuesday night.

Wasilew suffered a broken jaw in the incident, which happened in a game between the Dons and Tigers at VC Mitchell Park on Sunday, May 25.

He has since travelled to Perth for surgery where he had a metal plate and six bolts inserted into his jaw.

Tribunal chairman Richard Stevenson heard evidence from both Wasilew and Hewson as well as from two other players and a nearby runner who claimed to have witnessed the event.

The incident occurred behind play and was not reported by umpires who did not see it.

Wasilew alleged that Hewson punched him to the left side of the face with his right fist following a brief verbal altercation.

Hewson denied intentionally striking Wasilew.

At the tribunal he claimed the injury resulted from a hip and shoulder as he attempted to break away from the South Bunbury defender to present for a lead.

In delivering his verdict, Stevenson said he was most satisfied with the evidence given by South Bunbury runner Xavier Green who corroborated Wasilew’s version of events.

“I am of the belief that in the lead up to the incident there was some push and shove between the two players but nothing out of the normal, ” Stevenson said.

“Adrian Wasilew was very clear on the fact that he was intentionally hit by Clint Hewson and the nearby runner gave clear evidence of witnessing a forceful hit.”

Stevenson took into account the laws governing intentional striking, the severity of the injury and Hewson’s previously outstanding record when deciding on the penalty.

Hewson will not be prohibited from coaching during the suspension.