Daniel Motlop’s football career was on a knife’s edge this week after he copped a nine-game suspension from the Northern Territory Football League tribunal on Wednesday.
The suspension pushed the former North Melbourne and Port Adelaide forward over the 16-game threshold that under nation-wide rules would result in a life ban.
He was also ordered to undertake anger management counselling.
Motlop received a prescribed penalty of six weeks for making front on contact to St Marys’ Henry Labastida but this was upgraded to eight after pleading not-guilty at the tribunal.
He was offered two weeks suspension for a separate striking incident involving defender John Anstess in the third term, which was later downgraded to a week.
The mercurial forward already had four goals to his name and was one of the most damaging players on the ground before he was sent from the field during the third quarter.
Ultimately it was a technicality in the rules that saved Motlop’s career.
Under AFL rules a player must be sent a warning letter after passing a total of 10 games suspension.
Motlop has found himself in trouble with the NTFL tribunal on numerous occasions since ending his 130-game AFL career.
He also found himself in strife with the umpires in the River Murray Football League in South Australia this season.
Motlop is still a chance to play in the NTFL again this season if a few circumstances go his way.
If Wanderers finish top three as expected, they will need to lose one final on their way to making the grand final for him to play.
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