Parents furious after kids put through grueling footy tribunal saga

Junior footballers aged as young as 12 have been put through a grueling late-night tribunal hearing that has left parents furious.

The hearing, which resulted in a suspension that could see a girl miss her team’s South Metro Junior Football League grand final, lasted three hours until nearly 11pm on a school night.

The children, mostly aged 12 and 13, were hauled before a panel of adults who interrogated them over adult supervision.

It was all over a dangerous tackle that resulted in a four-week suspension.

The father of the suspended girl, Matt Faulks, told Neil Mitchell his daughter accepted the penalty for the tackle, which left an opponent unconscious.

But he said he doesn’t want any children — including the 12-year-old umpire — going through the same process again.

“The process was just a very poor process for young kids,” he said.

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In response, the SMJFL said it “does not comment on individual tribunal cases”.

“However, the league would like to confirm that minors are always afforded the option to have a support person present during a tribunal hearing.

“This support person is in addition to the advocate that represents the player and/or umpires in any case.