Court lets skipper play
A 25-year-old Collie football player charged with assaulting an opposition player was yesterday at the centre of an extraordinary eleventh-hour legal bid.
The WA Supreme Court convened to consider whether Collie Eagles captain Matthew Drew Blackford could play in an elimination final.
In a rare Sunday sitting, the court heard an application to alter a bail condition imposed on Mr Blackford that would have prevented him from playing in yesterday's game against the Bunbury Football Club.
Bunbury police charged Mr Blackford on Saturday with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault on a member of a rival club during a game last month. Police also set the bail conditions.
Hours before bounce-down yesterday, Justice Michael Corboy agreed to alter the bail condition, saying it was "difficult to understand" how it addressed safety concerns the police might have.
"If the police had a concern about the welfare of people who might be at the game or competing in the game, then the bail conditions might have been in a different form," Justice Corboy said.
He said once police had completed their investigation to the point where they were ready to charge Mr Blackford "it appears to me . . . that the matter of whether or not he should be permitted to compete was a matter that reverted to the tribunal".
Mr Blackford appeared in front of the South West Football League tribunal this month over the alleged assault on a Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault player, but the matter was adjourned.
A SWFL spokesman said the league had historically deferred cases that were subject to police action.
Outside court, lawyer Terry Dobson said the bail condition should never have been imposed and he had concerns as to why it was.
_The West Australian _understands Mr Dobson's concerns relate to alleged association between some members of Bunbury Football Club and Bunbury Police. South West District superintendent Peter Hatch said the 1982 Bail Act "requires an authorised officer to consider a range of conditions when imposing bail".
"In this matter, police objectively considered the circumstances and imposed bail conditions accordingly," he said. "Police respect the decision today of Justice Corboy in varying the conditions of bail.
"The matter is, however, sub judice pending the next court appearance. Accordingly, police are unable to make further comment."
Speaking after the court verdict, Mr Blackford said he was not a dirty player. "I've got a clean record on and off the field," he said.
After an eventful morning off the field, Mr Blackford was a major contributor on it yesterday afternoon as Collie defeated Bunbury by 31 points.
Mr Blackford is due to appear in Bunbury Magistrate's Court on September 27. Police will allege he kneed a 32-year-old man in the face after a tackle. The victim has had surgery for fractures.
