A HAMPDEN league icon and multiple premiership player is facing AFL Victoria deregistration after he was found guilty of unbecoming conduct at a tribunal hearing.
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Koroit star Damian O'Connor was found guilty of striking North Warrnambool Eagles' Michael Barlow in the Saints' historic grand final triumph on September 21.
It was O'Connor's sixth senior suspension and meant the 38-year-old has been banned for a combined 17 weeks across a 21-year career.
Any player who accrues more than 16 weeks of suspension faces a 12-month ban from playing, coaching or holding an official role with a club.
I'm not arguing there was contact from me, I'm just saying it was accidental.
- Damian O'Connor
Players can re-apply for registration after the 12-month ban has lapsed.
The tribunal was shown video evidence in which O'Connor, a three-time premiership player at Koroit, struck Barlow's face after a ball-up.
Barlow, a former Fremantle and Gold Coast midfielder now signed to Werribee, told the tribunal via phone that he felt "a pretty severe contact to my nose" while following the ball out of a stoppage.
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Trainers re-aligned Barlow's nose, which was dislodged, before he returned to the field after half-time.
Barlow told the tribunal he then underwent corrective surgery the following week after consulting his regular doctor.
He said the blow, which he initially thought to be a "elbow or fist", was intentional.
O'Connor, represented by advocate Gary Ayres, argued the contact was accidental.
O'Connor said he "thought he was going to go over the top" as Barlow crouched while bracing to change direction.
The former Terang Mortlake star said Barlow's crouch prompted the extended arm.
"What I'm saying is Michael has gone low, I've gone high, and we've both been in an uncompromising position," O'Connor said.
"I'm not arguing there was contact from me, I'm just saying it was accidental."
Ayres said O'Connor, a father-of-three, was remorseful for Barlow's injuries and had called to apologise one month after the incident occurred.
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Nick Ansell
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
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