Sport

Shepparton star to face grand final week tribunal hearing

By Tyler Maher

Sep 18, 2024

Shepparton's Luke Smith will face the tribunal tonight in an effort to take the field in Sunday’s grand final. Photo by Megan Fisher

UPDATE:

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Find the result of the tribunal hearing, here: https://www.sheppnews.com.au/sport/tribunal-and-report-news-from-the-final-week-of-footy-season/

EARLIER:

Midweek drama surrounds the Goulburn Valley League senior football grand final.

Shepparton star Luke Smith faces a nervous wait to find out if he will be able to join his teammates out on Deakin Reserve when they take on Echuca on Sunday.

Smith will front the tribunal on Wednesday night on charges stemming from an incident just three minutes into the weekend’s preliminary final win over Rochester, for which he was yellow carded and reported.

The 2018 premiership Bear was offered a two-match suspension for striking another player, but has waived the option of taking one week off for submitting an early guilty plea in favour of challenging the charge in totality.

High profile AFL player advocate Iain Findlay is en-route to defend Smith tonight.

“We’re confident he’ll be out there playing on Sunday,” Shepparton president Brendan Bicknell said.

“He’s one of the best players in country football and has an impeccable (disciplinary) record. We didn’t feel like it was a reportable offence.”