July 15, 2008

FREMANTLE utility Dean Solomon will miss the remainder of the season after he was suspended for eight weeks, for elbowing Geelong midfielder Cameron Ling in a spiteful match.

The three-man tribunal banned Solomon for eight matches, for throwing an elbow that left Ling with a depressed fracture of the cheekbone last Saturday.

The Cats said that Ling, who has undergone surgery, would be out of action for three to four weeks, but it emerged during the tribunal hearing that he could be missing for six weeks.

Solomon's penalty is the biggest single tribunal punishment since Carlton midfielder Greg Williams received a nine-week ban early in 1997, for pushing away field umpire Andrew Coates.

Solomon, 28, received 850 demerit points, which equals eight matches and 50 carryover points - which means he cannot play again until round two next season as Fremantle are already out of finals contention.

The report was referred directly to the tribunal, which left the jury to decide on the penalty, and the usual 25 per cent reduction on the penalty because of Solomon's guilty plea did not apply.

Sydney forward Barry Hall, earlier this year, was referred directly to the tribunal, for striking West Coast opponent Brent Staker, and he received a seven-game suspension.

Solomon, who appeared via a video link from Perth, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse during the hearing for the crude hit.

He also described Ling as a surfing and drinking mate when they caught up at Torquay near Geelong. He added that they exchanged text messages on Sunday, when Solomon apologised for the incident. Solomon had also publicly apologised immediately after the game at Skilled Stadium.

"I don't feel very good at all," he said in his evidence.

"I'm quite ashamed of my actions. At the time, I knew straight away I had gone outside the rules.

"It hasn't been easy on myself or my family. I'm very upset with the situation I've put myself in."

Solomon's former Essendon coach, Kevin Sheedy, and former Bombers teammates James Hird and Adam Ramanauskas meanwhile gave character references.

Ramanauskas, who has returned to the AFL after cancer, said in his character reference that Solomon had helped him enormously during the illness.

"He's almost gone through the illness with me," Ramanauskas said.

Ramanauskas, Sheedy and Hird all said in their statements that Solomon was a hard player but the blow was out of character.

Tribunal advocate Jeff Gleeson, SC, in summing up, acknowledged Solomon's guilty plea and his remorse but he made it clear that the jury should hand down a heavy sentence.

"A better means of showing repsect for your fellow footballers is to lower your elbows," Gleeson said.

Fremantle football manager Robert Shaw said immediately after the hearing that the Dockers were seeking legal advice "on the length of the penalty", but he said later that "the club has accepted the decision of the tribunal and we will not be challenging the length of the suspension".

Solomon has an appalling tribunal record. He has played 191 AFL matches but has now been suspended for 17 matches.

Solomon's teammate Ryan Crowley was earlier cleared of striking opponent Gary Ablett.
Crowley was facing a one-match ban if found guilty.

Sydney forward Amon Buchanan accepted a four-match ban, while West Coast on-baller Daniel Kerr accepted a three-match suspension for striking.

In the final case of the night, North Melbourne defender Daniel Pratt was cleared of making unnecessary and unreasonable contact with the face of Port Adelaide forward Brett Ebert.