GNFL colts brawl: 34 weeks of suspensions handed out as ex-AFL player Jayden Schofield faces lifetime ban

Brigades Football Club has revealed it is launching an appeal against the charges and penalties handed to its colts coach and one of its best league players, Jayden Schofield, over an on-field brawl last month. The club president claimed the coach only stepped in after one of his players was getting his head stomped on. The Great Northern Football League slapped Schofield with a 10-match ban for striking. Among other penalties the tribunal dished out was an 18-month ban from all GNFL matches to Maurice Brand, the father of one of the Brigades players. The brawl between Brigades and Mullewa colts on July 16 at GBSC Sports Park ended in the cancellation of the match after many red card were handed out. Thirteen players — eight from Mullewa and five from Brigades — were suspended for between one and four matches for striking and umpire abuse during the melee. Another five players were reprimanded for their role in the melee. In total, the tribunal handed out 34 weeks worth of suspensions to players and Schofield. In a statement on Friday, Brigades president Craig Harrington said the club were “appealing the charges against Jayden Schofield.” “Jayden and Maurice were trying to defuse a fight that had started when a Brigades colts player was getting his head stomped on on the ground,” Mr Harrington said. “We are disappointed with the GNFL in broadcasting the charges and only mentioning Jayden and Maurice’s names.” Schofield’s footballing future remains up in the air and he could be facing a life ban. Under a WA Country League by-law, automatic deregistration from all national football leagues is triggered when a player has accumulated 16 weeks of suspensions over the course of their career. The 10-week suspension takes Schofield — a former AFL player and JJ Clune medallist last year — to exactly 16 and would be grounds for expulsion. It is believed the last player to be given a life ban by the WACFL was former AFL-listed footballer Daniel Murray from the Goldfields in July last year for striking an umpire. It would be a huge blow for the Brigades star who has kicked 11 goals in his eight games this season, earning four best player nominations as well as representing Gascoyne at the country championships in July. However, the policy which was implemented by the AFL in 2011, states a player is to receive a formal notice after accumulating 10 weeks to warn them they are at risk of automatic deregistration. Schofield would not have received a warning in this case and discretion to carry out the process is left with the WA Football Commission which is still conducting its own investigation into the brawl leaving his future in doubt. Schofield has not played for Brigades since the incident. He played seven games for the Western Bulldogs in 2011 before being delisted and 139 games for East Fremantle between 2012 and 2019. According to various posts on social media, it is alleged Schofield was coming to defend his players after the brawl broke out on the field and trying pull players apart. Posts also alleged Brand entered the field after his son was hit in the brawl. Despite the GNFL’s heavy penalties, it is not the end of the matter over the July 16 brawl, as the WAFC is still investigating and there still could be police complaints made. The incident also resulted in umpires boycotting Mullewa league and colts games as well as Brigades colts games until the conclusion of the WAFC investigation, forcing both to use club umpires or volunteers. Mullewa has still yet to field a colts side since the incident having forfeited their last two games and had a bye on the weekend. Brigades have continued to play and sit in fourth spot on the ladder. It is also understood the GNFL have stood down umpire advisor Robert Bennett, although the Guardian understands this is in relation to a separate incident. In its statement, the GNFL said: “We will not tolerate any unbecoming behaviour, be it towards players, club officials, the GNFL or our GNFL umpires. Any person deemed to be in violation will be liable to any penalties as per our by-laws and policies.” The GNFL thanked all parties involved for their patience during the process. “It is important that we move forward from this incident and look towards how we can ensure a positive game day environment.” Mullewa Football Club, as well as Schofield, Brand and Bennett, have all been contacted for comment.