DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday 25 January 2012
THREE-time AFL premiership star Darryl White is free to resume his lengthy football career with NTFL club St Mary's after winning an appeal against a life ban on Monday night.
The Indigenous Team of the Century full-back was sensationally banned for life by AFL Northern Territory under the Australia-wide 15-week career suspension limit in December.
White, 38 (pictured), had accumulated the suspensions in a career spanning more than 20 years of senior football, including stints in Queensland, Victoria, the Northern Territory and, of course, during his 268 games in the AFL where he was a key player in the Brisbane Lions' rise from easybeats to triple premiers a decade ago.
Now with NTFL powerhouse club St Mary's, after lengthy post-AFL careers and club premierships with Darwin Buffaloes and Southern Districts, White was reported for high contact on the Tiwi Bombers' Donald Mungatopi last month.
The subsequent one-match suspension tipped his total over the 15-game limit.
However, and after several delays to have the appeal heard, St Mary's successfully argued against the suspension to the AFLNT Appeals Board on Monday night and White is now free to resume his career.
White has pledged to keep his cool in the future while revealing his frustrations as a high profile former AFL star playing on at State league level.
"I walk out on to the field and cop it straight away; I cop a bump, a hit...and you sort of give it back," he said.
"But now I will have to, once I have the footy in my hands, to let that do the talking for me."
White's reinstatement has come with the following conditions. He must:
* Visit at least four remote Territory communities with the AFLNT Umpires Association to help recruit umpires;
* Mentor St Mary's junior players and travelling to Melbourne with the NT Thunder under-18 side at the NAB National Championships;
* Working with the AFL Player's Association Indigenous Advisory Board over the next 12 months with player education and transition.
White is still on the threshold of a life ban. His career 15-week suspensions remain and if he is reported and suspended again he will be banned for life with no right of appeal.
Part of the statement released by the AFLNT
"In making a determination of the application for re-registration the (AFLNT Appeals Board) considered a broad range of submissions including a number of personal and professional referees advocating on behalf of Darryl White.
"The board noted that despite the impressive references and other information received from Darryl White that the case was a 'borderline’ one which required balanced consideration of a long and successful football career with an unfortunate and consistent pattern of undisciplined behavior to which the de-registration policy specifically applies.
"The board granted re-registration by noting that there were exceptional circumstances in the case taking into account that Darryl White is highly regarded inside and outside football having played for more then 20 years and 600 games, has never set out to physically attack or injure other players, expressed embarrassment and remorse as a result of the automatic de-registration and he indicated a genuine commitment to the re-offending prevention plan."
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 25/01/2012 23:01