Geelong Football Club has been fined $2000 for runner Nigel Lappin’s run-in with Carlton’s Mitch Robinson despite coach Chris Scott labelling it a “non-issue”.
AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said the Cats had been contacted over the issue during last Friday’s Round 12 match against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
Mr Evans said the AFL sought an explanation for why Lappin had come into contact with an opponent late in the match, during a stoppage situation as the umpire was taking control of the game to prepare to bounce the ball.
“The AFL accepts that the Geelong runner stumbled after tripping on the foot of a Geelong player and inadvertently moved into the path of an opposition Carlton player.
“But club officials must not put themselves in any position where they may interefere with the duties of an umpire or an opposition player’s role in the game.”
Mr Evans said the sanction of $2000 would be fully suspended for 12 months, taking into account the club’s good record.
The AFL had separately contacted all clubs this week on the responsibilities of club runners and was in the process of re-examining its guidelines.
At his weekly media conference, Scott bristled at the raising of the issue and said he would not waste his time commenting on it.
He later approached media to reiterate his view that it was a “non-issue” and that treatment of the incident had put the club in a bad light.
