Crocs fury as ‘thug’ Durbridge gets eight weeks for final meltdown
FOOTY BRAWL
CENTRALS Trinity Beach midfielder Brian Durbridge has been suspended for eight weeks for his preliminary final meltdown against Port Douglas.
Durbridge, whose dubious on-field antics have followed him around Australia, was involved in numerous incidents in his side's embarrassing 128-point loss at the hands of the Crocs at Cazalys Stadium.
He was red-carded for throwing multiple punches at Port Douglas player Ross McCrea before tangling with Crocs runner Glenn Dickson, who was trying to protect his players from getting involved ahead of the grand final. Vision shows Durbridge then punch Dickson, with the club volunteer running to the bench with a bloodied face.
The clip of the brawl sparked a heated reaction on social media, with Durbridge himself even gloating about his actions.
Dickson has received a three-week suspension for his role in the incident which has privately infuriated Port Douglas officials. They are travelling to the AFL Cairns tribunal on Wednesday night to contest the ban.?
Both club’s were also fined by AFL Cairns.?
Durbridge accepted his two-month suspension in what was believed to be his final AFL match. A football journeyman, Durbridge is no stranger to controversy in country Victoria and NSW in the powerful Goulburn Valley and Ovens and Murray Football Leagues.
His playing style hasn’t gone unnoticed since joining Centrals Trinity Beach, with one former North Cairns player saying on Facebook ‘This bloke’s just a thug mate. Cheap shots every bloke he can. The runner must have seen it and had a go then she was on…”.
??The preliminary final controversy is just one of a number of sub-plots in the build up to Saturday’s grand final.
?Dominating discussion is the fitness of star captain Kye Chapple, whose left medial ligament strain has him in doubt for the blockbuster decider against South Cairns.
