{"id":786293,"date":"2026-07-08T05:21:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T05:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/786293\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T05:21:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T05:21:13","slug":"ovens-and-murray-football-league-player-zac-pethybridge-suspended-for-striking-17-year-old-debutant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/786293\/","title":{"rendered":"Ovens and Murray Football League player Zac Pethybridge suspended for striking 17-year-old debutant"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Victorian country footballer<\/a> has been suspended for two weeks for an intentional strike to the back of an opponent\u2019s head. <\/p>\n

Myrtleford defender Zac Pethybridge will miss the next two games of the Ovens and Murray Football League season after striking a 17-year-old player from Wodonga Raiders on Saturday.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Country footballer suspended for striking teenager<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Match footage shows the Raiders player, who was making his senior debut, being struck in the back of the head and going down into the fetal position before being pushed further into the ground by Pethybridge.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear on the severity of the injury, but if he suffered a concussion then he will be forced to spend 21 days on the sidelines as part of concussion protocols. <\/p>\n

The incident was graded as intentional conduct, high contact and medium impact, resulting in a three-match suspension which was reduced to two with an early guilty plea. <\/p>\n

\"ZacZac Pethybridge has been suspended for striking Charlie Johnson. Credit: Supplied<\/p>\n

The Ovens and Murray Football Netball League and the Wodonga Raiders both declined to comment when contacted by 7NEWS.com.au. <\/p>\n

The league\u2019s decision to suspend Pethybridge for just two weeks has caused outrage within the local footy community. <\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolute disgrace. How can anyone think this outcome is fair?\u201d Liam Andrews wrote in response to the suspension.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe kid will miss more weeks with concussion than Pethybridge misses through suspension.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlayers have received three weeks for accidental high contact from a bump or for pushing someone into a contest. This was an intentional king hit to the back of the head.<\/p>\n

\u201cTom Lynch got five weeks last year for hitting Jordon butts in the head and it didn\u2019t even result in a concussion. Very poor outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly Johnson added: \u201cThis is such a disappointing outcome. Is this the level that the O&M are willingly going to accept? <\/p>\n

\u201cTwo weeks for an intentional high impact cowards punch?! And a debut player who is now out in line with concussion protocols for a minimum 21 days! The repercussions for the player outweigh that of the perpetrator. Make sense of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The youngster played 10 games in Wodonga\u2019s under 17s team this year before being selected in the senior team for the first time last week. <\/p>\n

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