South Fremantle star Matt Parker has been ruled out of Sandover Medal contention and will miss his side’s next three games after accepting a suspension for rough conduct.
Parker was reported by the umpires after an incident involving Peel’s Toby Jenkins in the first term of the reigning premiers’ eventual 18-point loss to the Thunder at Lane Group Stadium on Saturday. Accepting the ban early has reduced his sanction down from four weeks but means he will miss the Bulldogs’ next three games, starting with their WA Day derby against East Fremantle at Fremantle Community Bank Oval on Monday.
The dynamic midfielder, who finished second to Perth’s Charlie Constable in last year’s Sandover Medal count, had endured a disjointed start to the season, playing only two of his side’s first seven games. He missed the first game of his side’s 2026 campaign due to a quad issue before being sidelined for more than a month by a hamstring problem.
Other suspensions handed down
Meanwhile, another pair of the competition’s stars in Claremont’s Jaiden Hunter and East Fremantle’s Cam Eardley have been offered one-week suspensions for striking. Hunter was put on report after an incident involving East Perth’s Ethan Regan in the third term of the Tigers’ shock 39-point loss to East Perth, and Eardley was cited in the same quarter of the Sharks’ 27-point win over West Coast.
Fremantle-listed utility Bailey Banfield can accept a reprimand after being reported for rough conduct for the Thunder, and Swan Districts star Zane Trew can do the same for carelessly making contact with an umpire in his side’s loss to Subiaco.
