Eddie McGuire has implored the AFL to make the roles of those who run the tribunal full-time, while James Hird has defended juror Jason Johnson over his conflicting commitments in the Zak Butters case.
The Butters tribunal hearing held this month turned farcical when it became apparent during the virtual proceedings that Johnson had hopped in his car to drive somewhere.
According to McGuire, Johnson, who is also a real estate agent, agreed to make himself available for the hearing but told the AFL he must head to an inspection at 5.30pm.
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Tribunal chair Renee Enbom also agreed to work the hearing but told the league she had another appointment to go to, as well, McGuire said.
Last Tuesday’s tribunal hearing, regarding Butters’ alleged abuse of umpire Nick Foot, was re-scheduled several times.
Essendon great Jason Johnson is an AFL tribunal juror. AFL Photos via Getty Images
McGuire delivered a pointed message on Nine’s Footy Classified on Tuesday night.
“Why don’t we have full-time people?” the former Collingwood president said.
“They’ve got enough people at the AFL who can do these things.
“It’s like the umpires. When are we gonna have some full-time umpires so you don’t have to work at Sportsbet or whatever the case may be?
“Take the pain out before it comes.
“This was always going to happen. Always. And then when it happens everyone goes, ‘Oh, what’s happening here?’
“Just sort it out, nice and easy.”
Butters was fined $1500 for allegedly saying to Foot: “How much are they [St Kilda] paying you?”
But Port Adelaide challenged the decision and the AFL appeals board sensationally quashed the matter, citing “a miscarriage of justice and an error of law”.
Johnson has copped widespread flak for his decision to drive to the inspection mid-hearing but Hird believes that criticism is unwarranted.
“I think Jason’s been unfairly criticised,” Hird said on Footy Classified.
“… The meeting moved around two or three times during the day.
“It just doesn’t look like a professional outfit at all.
“It’s not the problem of the actual people on the tribunal – it’s the system that’s been put in place.”
Garry Lyon slammed the tribunal hearing as “embarrassing”.
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