GSFL 2024: Mt Barker’s Mitch Jackson cops suspension for dangerous tackle against Royals amid plea confusion

Mt Barker tall utility Mitch Jackson has been suspended after his dangerous tackle on Royals’ Zak Mola in their round six victory on June 1. Jackson was offered a two-week suspension with an early guilty plea by the Great Southern Football League tribunal office, before opting to challenge the sanction. Following a communication breakdown, Jackson fronted the tribunal last Wednesday to contest the ban but ultimately pleaded guilty as planned, resulting in a two-match suspension. Jackson was issued a yellow card for the incident which caused Mola’s head to strike the ground, forcing him off the field with assistance from trainers. Despite the heavy landing, Mola was cleared of concussion allowing him to play in the Lions’ 37-point victory over Railways on Saturday night. Jackson’s two-game ban means he missed the Bulls narrow round seven win over Denmark-Walpole on Saturday and won’t play against Railways on June 22. North Albany’s Luke Mowaljarlai is now free to play after serving a four-match suspension for umpire abuse handed down in round three. Mowaljarlai received his third yellow card of the year which automatically gave him a one-week ban, before receiving another yellow card while serving his 15-minute penalty off the ground, also for abuse. A three-match sanction was dealt for the abuse, taking his total stint on the sidelines to four weeks. His first two yellow cards came in the Kangas’ round one Anzac Day clash with the Tigers, with the first for rough conduct on Tigers co-captain Jayden Scott and the second for umpire abuse, automatically handing him a one match-ban for two yellows in the same game.