AN ADULT water carrier is under investigation for striking a player in a Central Highlands Football League under-18 encounter.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Daylesford has requested the league look into the incident in which Ballan's Bob Fernandez is alleged to have made contact to the face of a 16-year-old Bulldogs footballer during round six on May 16.
The game was abandoned late in the final quarter, with Daylesford winning by 27 points.
It is understood the Bulldogs player has no ongoing issues following the incident and the case is now being probed by the investigating officer, who was assigned to the task on May 22. The investigator has 21 working days to return a recommendation to the league for consideration.
Ballan president Billy Smith told The Courier the club would contest the allegations.
"We have a number of witnesses to the incident and we look forward to cooperating fully with the investigating officer," Smith said.
"We are also hoping the whole game is getting looked at - all reports that were thrown out of the game are being looked at - due to the game being called off by our coaches."
A range of reports from the match didn't reach the AFL Goldfields Independent Tribunal because correct procedure was not followed on the day.
Smith said Fernandez did not wish to comment on the matter.
The investigation is one of three currently underway in the Central Highlands league, with an investigator appointed on May 12 to look into an incident - believed to be physical - between a Clunes player and an umpire during the senior clash against Gordon in round five on May 9.
It is understood that video evidence will be required to help identify the player involved or the club put his name forward.
Springbank president Anthony Simpson is also at the centre of an investigation following the senior grand final rematch on May 17.
The investigation will look at allegations that Simpson was involved in a confrontation with officiating umpires following Bungaree's 26-point win over the Tigers at Wallace. A follow-up phone call from Simpson to one of the umpires is also understood to be part of the probe.