A local footy player faces a life-ban and his club expulsion from the competition if found guilty over a series of ugly on-field clashes which left an opponent with a shattered jaw and his teammate heavily concussed.
Adam Jones was reported over four separate incidents during the division seven qualifying final between Salisbury West and Trinity Old Scholars in the Adelaide Footy League on Saturday.
Trinity defender Carl Teusner was rushed to hospital after Jones appeared to raise his knee to the defender’s head, with the league to investigate if the brutal blow was intentional.
‘I got a fracture that goes through the corner of my jaw, goes right through and comes through my last tooth,’ Teusner, 29, told Nine News.
A local footy player could be banned for life and his club expulsion from the competition after a series of on-field clashes. Adam Jones is pictured appearing to raise his knee at an opponent
‘And I’ve got a corner of my jaw that’s actually separated as well. So there’s two fractures.’
In a separate incident in the same match, Jones appeared to lift his elbow to an opponent’s head – and in another he seemingly stomped on a player’s foot.
‘We need to be clear that there is no assumption of guilt and the player needs every opportunity to defend himself,’ league chief John Kernahan said.
‘But the player will be held to account and we will be very, very clear and concise in what that penalty will be, should it be proven guilty.’
Jones will appear at the league tribunal on Wednesday to face charges of striking, kicking and undue rough play.
The player has previously been suspended for a total of seven games. Under league rules he will be banned for life if that total reaches 12.
Trinity defender Carl Teusner was rushed to hospital with a shattered jaw after Saturday’s match
In a separate incident, Jones appeared to lift his elbow to an opponent’s head (circled)
Salisbury West now faces the prospect of being banned from the competition after rival club Salisbury North was kicked out following repeat striking offences.
‘After repeated failings, we simply arrive at the point where one person can cost the whole club. And we don’t apologise for that,’ Mr Kernahan said.
Jones wasn’t reported by umpires on Saturday but Trinity Old Scholars submitted footage of two of the clashes to the league.
‘Our best wishes to club stalwart Carl Teusner and his family as he recovers from the injuries sustained in Saturday’s disappointing incident,’ the club wrote on Facebook.
‘I got a fracture that goes through the corner of my jaw, goes right through and comes through my last tooth,’ said Teusner (pictured)
Jones (pictured in possession) will appear at the league tribunal on Wednesday to face charges of striking, kicking and undue rough play
‘Teusy, we hope to see you around the club as the finals progress and know that we are right behind you and supporting you all of the way.
‘Secondly, let it be known the incidents we saw on Saturday go well beyond football and we will not stand by and let that happen to our players.
‘We stand firmly by our decision to take this to the league and to let it deliberate on the matters at hand. Now, as a club, we must stand by and let the league handle the situation.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Salisbury West for comment.
‘Our best wishes to club stalwart Carl Teusner and his family as he recovers from the injuries sustained in Saturday’s disappointing incident,’ the club wrote on Facebook