WODONGA is furious after tough nut Sam Wortmann was last night handed a sensational six-match ban after being cited on video review.
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Wortmann, who was charged with rough conduct, was left visibly distressed when the tribunal read its verdict out well into the early hours of this morning.
He was outed for six games, with two of those suspended, meaning he will sit out Wodonga's next four matches.
Wortmann pleaded not guilty and remained adamant all night his only focus was winning the ball when he collected North Albury midfielder David Miles high last Saturday.
Wodonga coach Ben Hollands, who gave evidence, was nothing short of infuriated by Wortmann's ban.
He told the tribunal there was a serious grey area in game right now, with players also penalised for sliding into an opponent's legs.
Hollands, who was playing on Miles at the time of the collision, said he told all of his players to keep their feet.
He said Wortmann did "everything he could" to avoid contact with Miles, but it was inevitable.
The news only got worse for the Bulldogs, with second-gamer Ryan Cannon also suspended.
Cannon will miss today’s Anzac Day showdown against Wodonga Raiders after he was also suspended for rough conduct.
He was outed for two games, with one of those weeks suspended for the rest of the season.
The Raiders will be without midfield enforcer Michael Steven for today's clash after he was handed a two-game ban.
Steven, who had been offered a one-week set penalty, wanted to clear his name in front of the tribunal but did not appear in person.
Yarrawonga, meanwhile, lost its most logical match-up for dangerous Corowa-Rutherglen forward Luke Gestier after star utility Marcus McMillan was suspended.
McMillan was handed a one-match ban by the tribunal after he pleaded guilty to striking Wangaratta’s Matt Kelly on Sunday at Mulwala.
McMillan, who won the Pigeons’ best and fairest in 2012, was also cited by the Ovens and Murray’s match review panel during the week.
It leaves the reigning premier sorely undermanned in defence this week, with playing coach Drew Barnes now all but certain to be forced into the backline on Sunday.
Gestier is averaging six goals a game for the Roos in the opening rounds and shapes as a headache for the Pigeons this week.