UPDATE: A teenager who was seriously injured after a brawl in an Essendon District Football League game is in a neck brace but on the road to recovery, according to the club.
The 17-year-old Essendon Doutta Stars player was treated by paramedics at Nipper Jordan Oval in Essendon on Saturday morning before being taken to hospital.
He was released on Saturday afternoon.
A Northern Saints player was given a life ban at an Essendon District Football League tribunal hearing on Tuesday night.
The 18-year-old Northern Saints player was found guilty of kicking an opposition player in the match against the Stars.
Essendon Doutta Stars president Bruce Runting said the league had to come down hard on the player.
“It was the least they could have done as far as we were concerned,” he said. “There is no place for it.”
EDFL general manager Marc Turri said he was pleased the tribunal had dealt with the matter in a “swift and just manner”.
“It sends a message to the league that this sort of thing will not be tolerated.
“There was a guilty plea and having heard the evidence all parties determined that a life sentence was appropriate.
“Nobody ever wants to see a player be injured and this sort of indiscretion is not tolerated in the community so it is certainly is not tolerated on a footy field.”
Turri said the league would now work with its clubs to ensure such an incident would not happen again.
“We will have communication with the clubs and go from there,” he said.
“If there is trouble we would like to be made aware directly. We need to have the right measures in place.”
Essendon Doutta Stars said it was reviewing the melee which led to the player being injured.
“We are disappointed with the melee that occurred. The club is reviewing the matter to ensure incidents like this are not repeated in the future,” the club said.
“The Essendon Doutta Stars Football Club strives to ensure a warm, welcoming and safe environment for all of our members, players and supporters to enjoy and participate in local football.”
Police are investigating the incident.
The Northern Saints have been contacted for comment.
