Great Southern Football League to probe Bulls walk-off in colts match

The Great Southern Football League will investigate an incident from Sunday’s colts game where Mt Barker walked off the ground with about five minutes left to play in the final term and did not return. The Bulls colts players came together near their coaches dugout late in the fourth quarter and their entire team walked up the race and away from the ground. The field umpires spoke with opposition team Railways and then proceeded to allow the match to continue albeit with one team left on the oval, before the final siren sounded soon afterwards. The Tigers players kicked the ball around to themselves and did not score for the couple of minutes without their opposition. The Bulls lost the match by 84 points and sit last on the ladder in the five-team colts competition with two rounds left in the regular season. GSFL president Joe Burton said the incident, which was noted on the match report sheet by the umpires will be looked into. Burton said his understanding is that if a team walks from the field of play while the game is going, they immediately forfeit. “We will definitely be looking into it,” Burton said. “It was noted on the match report sheet. “It will be discussed by league directors (tonight). “We are fully supportive of our umpires in this league.” Burton said the league had recently introduced financial penalties of $250 for a first offence and $500 for any offence after that, for any umpire abuse from players, coaches or club officials.