A Reservoir footballer who was wearing a tracking bracelet has been handed a life ban after breaking an opponent's jaw during a match on the weekend.
Ashley Cluney was found guilty of striking a player from South Morang on Saturday, with the tribunal handing him a 16-game ban.
The penalty triggers a life ban, with players who amass a total suspension of 16 weeks or more banned from local football and deregistered.
The South Morang player has spent the past three days in hospital, and will miss the remainder of the season as he recovers from a broken jaw.
The Lions' president Chris Donnelly told the Herald Sun the player was still recovering from surgery.
โIndications are he has got to keep his jaw still,โ Donnelly said.
โIf heโs to open it too wide in the initial stages, it might break again.โ
