Love it go the Blues, will we have anyone to play round one. Disgusting behaviour.
Carlton announcement on Setanta O'hAilpin due shortlyArticle from: Font size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Jon Ralph, Sam Edmund
February 06, 2009 11:39am
UPDATE 3.48pm: CARLTON has banished Setanta O'hAilpin and ordered anger management therapy after a violent bust-up today.
“Setanta’s actions were totally unacceptable, on or off the field, and we are bitterly disappointed in the incident with Cameron Cloke,” said Carlton CEO Greg Swann in a statement.
The club said he has been suspended "pending an AFL investigation" and will train with the Northern Bullants for the foreseeable future.
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He will also undergo an anger management course with the club psychologist.
The club described Setanta as "remorseful" and said he had apologised to Cloke.
The statement added that the Carlton leadership group was involved in the decision to suspend O'hAilpin.
Club coach Brett Ratten earlier refused to rule out sacking O'hAilpin after he punched and kicked teammate Cloke during an intra-club match this morning.
Captain Chris Judd has described O'hAilpin's violent bust-up as "regrettable".
"It was a regrettable incident, obviously," said Judd. "We've spoken to both players.
"Cameron is not seriously injured or holding any sort of grudge.
"Carlos (O hAilpin) regrets what happened.
"The club will speak to Carlos tonight and tell him what caution we want to take and I'm sure after that the club will make an announcement."
The match at Visy Park erupted sensationally just after 11am when O'hAilpin punched and then kicked Cloke.
Coach Ratten refused to rule out the possibility of the club tearing up the Irishman's contract following the incident.
Ratten described the kick as "a poor act", and said while players often scuffle between themselves in pre-season matches, kicking was another thing altogether.
"Reflecting on what has happened it's not part of our game,'' said Ratten.
"We'll sit down with Setanta and work through that."
"I think in practice matches, you go through history and training in general, there's all the argy-bargy and ... things like that.
"But that is not part of our game.
''(Setanta) has gone home and we'll give him time to cool off and have a think about his actions and we'll take it up this afternoon.''
When asked whether the incident could prompt Carlton to sack O'hAilpin, Ratten replied: "We'll have to sit down and talk about all the issues.''
Although the match was an intra-club encounter, under AFL rules, O'hAilpin can be suspended by the tribunal.
Just after 12pm, the officiating umpires lodged a notice of investigation, which means the match review panel will scrutinise O'hAilpin's actions on Monday morning.
The players were scuffling late in the third quarter when the notoriously temperamental O'hAilpin cut loose.
First he threw a left-handed roundhouse at Cloke, dropping him, and then struck out with his right boot.
The match was held up for 15 minutes as both players were taken from the field, with Cloke being examined by the club's medical staff.
O'hAilpin was sent off the ground by club leader Brendan Fevola, with captain Chris Judd then advising him to return home to cool his heels.
Neither player returned to the action and the game was stopped at the end of the third quarter.
Cloke left the ground afterwards without comment, having suffered a cut eye in the incident.
The incident compounded an already disappointing intra-club match with best and fairest-winning midfielder Andrew Carrazzo leaving the ground with what is believed to be a serious left-arm injury.
O'hAilpin has been known to tangle with his teammates at training but kicking a player, especially a teammate, is seen as one of football's lowest acts.
Cloke left the ground shaken and was assessed by doctors for what seemed a bruise on his right eyebrow and took no part in the game.
Surrounded by media post-match, he would say only that he was fine and was unwilling to discuss the issue.
This disrupts what was shaping as a perfect preseason for Carlton with captain Chris Judd in perfect condition and Brendan Fevola earlier kicking a goal in a solid performance
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25016517-661,00.html
