Monday, March 21, 2011

Open Letter To The WAFL

Dear WAFL

On Saturday I attended the East Fremantle vs Claremont game at Shark Park. As you're fully aware, Daniel 'Wayne' Kerr was making a comeback from injury and playing his first senior game for East Freo. In the course of the match he made a cowardly strike on Luke Blackwell with his elbow while Blackwell was on his back and defenseless on the ground. This strike was clearly captured by Channel 7 cameras and has now been shown nationwide.

Claremont have followed traditional footy etiquette and decided to leave on the field what happened there but as the body running football in this state you have a higher responsibility. You have the power to choose to open an investigation into Kerr's actions but have chosen not to. Instead you've taken the soft option and hidden behind Claremont's decision and used it as a shield for your own inaction. This is unacceptable.

The footage of Kerr striking Blackwell has been shown nationwide on news and football programmes and your inaction is bringing our proud state competition into disrepute.

I realise you are under extreme pressure from the West Coast Eagles to ignore Kerr's actions but it is time for the WAFL to do the right thing, even if it does upset the 2010 wooden spooners. I challenge you to either bring Kerr before the tribunal or explain why you choose not to.

I await your response.

Regards
Dave

* In the interests of full disclosure I declare that I have been a Claremont Football Club member since 1988