So what did you see, live stream didn't show much.

From what I heard he still swung & connected with the coach?

If true, both should be in trouble.

Might have to take some popcorn down to the racecourse today. Could be some fun.

From what I understand, Ridgeway instigated the incident by getting in Hawkes personal space running back down the sideline after a West score that sealed the game. I didn't see any chat between them before Ridgeway made a beeline to taunt Hawkes right in front of the Rockets bench -clapping right in his face.

I have no doubt Hawkes regrets reacting to Ridgeway by pushing him away but there weren't too many other options for him. He took a pretty solid shot to the jaw before going after Ridgeway with any intent.

I'd suggest Ridgeway was very fortunate to get out of Hillcrest with just a buckled left leg.

Ridgeway will play next week. BSA to cave in to West's lawyers

North need to lawyer up too! Ridiculous if he's allowed to play.

How can north lawyer up, they can't be prosecution. All they can do is defend Hawkes actions and be witness to incident.
All west have to do is delay tribunal somehow for a week. Or if suspension is handed down appeal it but not sure of legality of it all. Too many people have been watching Law and Order.
End of day was stupid action by Ridgeway, may have cost his team a chance at title. Apparently was given a bit of crap throughout game following a dunk after whistle, but if true if a punch was thrown deserves to be rubbed out. And I'm one who was hoping someone would dethrone the Tigers chequebook squad.

If Ridgeway is not suspended and gets to play the Grand Final, then BSA have made the league a joke.

if Ridgeway DOES get suspended the league is a joke

when you know the game is out of reach just go on court and provoke a player to react.

easy way to take out a player for the following week

would set a dangerous precedent and allow losing teams to still control a Finals series

I'm a west supporter but he should have walked away instead of allegedly throwing a punch. If he gets rubbed out then it's his own fault

Both

Ridgeway initiated the issue by invading North coach's space including taunting. Coach pushed Ridgeway out of his face. Ridgeway swung a punch leading to broken glasses and the escalation of the issue.

Ridgeway was provocative earlier in game driving knees into a player attempting a dunk significantly after the whistle blew. Me thinks he is not the sharpest tool in the shed!!!

Both player and coach need a suspension. Anything else just sends the message that BSA is soft and doesn't deserve to run the Premier League competition

Maybe it's a reflection of the roster of umpires they put on the game. Finals are not the time for 'giving experience'. The best umpires should be always be put on and if I were BSA, I would want to make this go away as quietly as possible lest a certain writer runs with it.

Even if the coach did run on the court to provoke it (not how it went down, at all) swinging & connecting on a punch to the face is going to be a hefty suspension.

How can a player be in a Coach's space on court? Impossible.

Coach escalated the issue the second he stepped on court

Provocative on a dunk? The game was over-flowing with 'provocative' behaviour if that's the case

Anon above. You have no idea. You can be in someone's face taunting and coach can be not in court. Just coz the player is in his personal space doesn't mean he is on court or not. It was lucky there was not an all in brawl on other court potentially including others.

You don't have to be a big man to take the first swing or to jump into a player who has stopped playing when the whistle blew.

But you can be a bigger man and ignore childish taunting. Hawkes chose not to and the rest is as they say history.

I've got an idea.

A coach regardless of any taunting just can't step onto court and push a player

Under ANY circumstances

I agree it was lucky more didn't happen on court 2 when your Coach threw a chair at Ridgeway after waiting for him there.

Both actions are way out of line & both need lengthy suspensions.

i 100% agree with this post from earlier.

Ridgeway initiated the issue by invading North coach's space including taunting. Coach pushed Ridgeway out of his face. Ridgeway swung a punch leading to broken glasses and the escalation of the issue.

Ridgeway was provocative earlier in game driving knees into a player attempting a dunk significantly after the whistle blew. Me thinks he is not the sharpest tool in the shed!!!

Both player and coach need a suspension. Anything else just sends the message that BSA is soft and doesn't deserve to run the Premier League competition

this is why BSA needs to have the best refs doing finals. Refs had lost control of the game.

you 100% agree with the initial poster because it was probably YOU who posted it in the first place...sheesh

Hit him or missed. Swung a fist or not.

The tribunal rules have significant events with lengthy suspensions including the catch all of bringing the game into disrepute.

It was a horrible look especially when you take into account there were many children in attendance and a politician who has done a lot for basketball in the state. BSA need to give penalties (because the offence did take place) if for no other reason but to send a clear and strong message to the kids and also to people supporting the sport in the state that this behaviour is unacceptable and not what BSA condones.

Kind of ironic now when you look back on it that the Men's Referee of the Year was sitting in the crowd watching the game and not on the court working it. Really shines a spotlight on the appointments.

Realistically if a punch was thrown a lot more damage would have been done then just broken glasses... It looked a lot like a slap rather then a punch.
On another note as OP said wonderful showcase for the league, high level of talent out there and plenty of dunks to add to the excitement. I did see that Southern brought in some scaffolding to cater for extra fans pity this was not also done at Hillcrest.

The charge in the tribunal rules is striking or attempting to strike and references fist, hand, etc.

Does it matter who was more at fault between the two? Both behaved terribly
Player taunted the coach - poor behaviour, not worth a suspension
Coach shoved player - Extremley poor behaviour worthy of suspension
Player "Struck" (to keep in line with tribunal language) Coach - Extremley poor behaviour worthy of suspension
Coach attempted to kick player - Extremley poor behaviour worthy of suspension
Both player and coach brought the game into disrepute - worthy of a suspension. Throw the book at them both and suspend them for a long time, it doesn't matter who was more guilty or the instigator. Both should receive a number of weeks!!!

If Hawkes doesnt react to the childish behaviour by pushing Ridgeway nothing escalates does it? Hawkes is 43 years old and the leader of the club. Surely a person of his statue, experience as a player, as a coach and in life he can control his emotions.

Clearly he couldn't and now we have this mess overshadowing the biggest game of the season.

OMG... *eats popcorn*

MOAR!

OMG... *eats popcorn*

MOAR!

Who eyewitnessed the Court 2 after party? Please post!

Bottom line, it can't be determined who instigated the brawl by crossing the line first but both well & truly crossed the line.

Both need to be suspended. Not suspended sentences, but hefty suspensions. And the penalty should be in place before eithers next game!

I wonder if they give Hawkes weeks, will they allow him to serve them during summer season?

Have any reports been laid yet?

Wouldn't it be convenenient for BSA to have the referee to take their full four days to lodge the report which will mean a hastily convened tribunal before the GF or even better for BSA that they put it off till next week

I would not be surprised with anything which may happen now

Lawyer city if bsa take 4 days to lodge a charge.

Again, how can it be lawyer city. West can only try for a stay in the proceedings, bsa's lawyers could fight that application. North or anyone else can't force a ruling body to have a hearing.
Surely by now there should be word if the matter has been referred to the tribunal, before anyone gets excited, has this been confirmed?

Bottom line, it can't be determined who instigated the brawl by crossing the line first but both well & truly crossed the line.

Both need to be suspended. Not suspended sentences, but hefty suspensions. And the penalty should be in place before eithers next game!

I wonder if they give Hawkes weeks, will they allow him to serve them during summer season?

Is there a time frame on the report being filed? Will BSA botch it with admin?

What Harold has to determine is what is best for him if he wants to continue playing basketball somewhere. Whatever happens he is most likely going to have a suspension he needs to serve before he plays in any competition elsewhere. Given there are so many players out there why would a club look at him knowing he can't play straight away which may also indicate he is rather volatile and not disciplined. Perhaps he needs to avoid all this talk of delaying tactics, take a small penalty on the chin and improve his chances of playing elsewhere. I am sure BSA will impose a heavier penalty if lawyers delay the tribunal. In those circumstances BSA will need to appear not as a toothless tiger and go with a heavier penalty.

Last year the Cairns Taipans import got a 12 months suspension (later reduced) but it was only for within Australia. He was free to go play anywhere else in the world so not sure the above post is entirely accurate.

tribunal will be this week

Have heard Wednesday or Thursday. I think the only question is will BSA allow an appeal that can't be heard until next week.

Pissweak if they do.

All have one theme though - both did the wrong thing! Fault only shades the degrees of the wrongdoing. Fact is both deserve weeks.

Facepalm, getting weeks with one game left. Unless he retires he will play again, not sure how/if suspension will follow him, but if he comes back here he will have to serve remainder. But this brain fade may cost west chance at title so doubtful if he'll return.

actually illegal homophobic or racial verbal slurs

Actually just read the bylaws regarding the tribunal. As a layperson a person can appeal the decision of the tribunal within three working days of being informed of the penalty. So if the tribunal hands down a suspension on Thursday night, has Ridgeway simply got the right to appeal the decision Friday night and then be eligible to play GF and then have the appeal heard the following week. Seems a fairly big loophole in this whole affair. Play the Grand Final then take whatever penalty he gets the following week and if he doesn't return then gets no penalty. Can head back to US and say he's playing for a local association and serve it there if there's some rule about it following him internationally.
Or is it the case that he has to serve the penalty until it's heard at the appeal tribunal the following week.
Either way, if bsa had heard the charge on Tuesday then the bylaw is moot, anyone heard when it officially is being heard?
And other interesting thing to read in bylaws are the penalties, has a specific penalty for kicking and based on what has been reported, hawkes is in trouble. But does the penalty have to be served next premier league season or can he say he's coaching under 12 div five and serve it there?

I believe the appeal would only be granted on the basis of new evidence being introduced, or misconduct in the tribunal hearing. If neither of those things are established, then the appeal will not be granted.

As for Hawkes - interesting question!

From reading everything here and trying to take out the extremes of the recounts of what happened I think Ridgeway has more to answer. I hardly see the need to throw a punch being necessary "self defence" to being pushed away. If anything Hawkes has the argument of self - defence after the punch from Ridgeway.

If Ridgeway plays games with an appeal BSA need to call that before the game as it will just be seen as a farce.

I also believe the punch landed given the broken glasses, the bleeding mouth and the need for x-rays

Or were the x-rays to check to see if he had broken his foot? Don't frame an argument to suit the side of the fence you sit.

Both are in big trouble. If Hawkes does not initially push Ridgeway we have no issue do we. No punch, no kick, no chasing around the court.

If the senior Coach of the club doesn't react to adolescent behaviour and can't control himself then who is to blame for that? He is an experienced man in the basketball world, he is the face of the Men's senior program. He didn't like losing, didn't like being told about it and reacted by making contact with an opposing player which lead to the dumbest reaction by a player ever and then the ensuing melee there after.

Going by what you read on here - that's a good life choice!

So what do people think the chances are of

A) Ridgeway playing this week
B) Hawkes coaching round 1 2018

Ridgeway maybe with a technicality but will get book thrown at him eventually. Hawkes a dead man walking, one of worst examples of brain snaps. 10 weeks plus.

tribunal is tonight is it not?

Hawkes?

Tribunal held tonight I'm told. Wonder how people can find out the outcomes?

LOL oh my Steven.

refs:

Aylen & Gillings on women

Durant, Wieland, Devlin on men's

Steven it's not up to you.

If the import plays the grand final, there is stomething wrong with BSA, he punch a coach. See people writing the coach was on the court.. he was on the court of a reaction of being punched in the face..

Bit of an early call there. Ridgeway is only a bench player afterall!

Hmmm, could west pull out an appeal application with "new" evidence, put it off to next week and get him to play. Bit of dirty pool but worth a try.
But let's not forget that Ridgeway is really just a role player, was terrible at beginning of season and was often in foul trouble. Not an insurmountable loss, losing Oldham would make it near impossible but this may galvanise the bearcats and put them in an us vs them mentality. Wouldn't rule them out. Maybe Corey can step on the court and push Drmic and sacrifice himself, basketball is often a copycat sport.
Do feel a bit sorry for Harold, young kid that let his emotions get the better of him, probably will be the end of his international career and will probably be the scapegoat if they lose, not sure if teammates could have dragged him away, but is a really nice guy after meeting him a few times.
What did Hawkes get BTW?

A - wrong

Hawkes 8. Ridgeway 4. Plus both another 6 weeks suspended sentence on top.

Now will West accept the "umpires" decision and move on

Hawkes guilty on ALL 3 charges.
Ridgeway not guilty on one charge and upgraded on other.

What were the charges in the first place? Was there footage of it?

If North ever let Hawkes coach again they are an absolute disgrace of a club. If Hawkes thinks he's fit to coach PL basketball he needs to get help.

I think also Mike Gibson should lose is job for the decision to 'rest' umpires for the Prelim. Should be held accountable.

PL is only a small part of Gibson's job description. Maybe just remove him as PL commissioner.

Then that is easy, take it off him.

Gibson was the one who stood by the decision to rest umpires in meeting with Basketball Adelaide. He needs to be held accountable.

Isn't the idea that you can't have the same umpires for the prelims as the grand final? So these 'rested' umpires people are mentioning will likely be reffing the grands. Also they wouldn't just put randoms on the prelim.

How scary is it that the 6th - 8th best ranked referees in the state could be partly to blame for losing control of a PL game.

Given over 35 referees did PL games this year it's lucky we haven't had even bigger issues during the season.

Depth of referee standards clearly is a concern but is there any real action to address this?

^So what I'm saying is that if MG was going to lose his job surely it would have happened before this, and I doubt that this will be the reason he does.

Think by Prelim coaches / players want consistency rather than rested refs. Elite competitions as BSA proclaim PL is would reward the best refs with the biggest games.

The problem stems from lack of development. Every panel meeting (development session) this season was cancelled. Probably a good place as any to start

Yes there is an issue to address. My understanding is the clubs and Basketball Adelaide expressed their concerns to BSA about not having more experienced refs handling these games for fear of losing control. BSA said not an issue. How wrong was that! Someone must be held accountable though I am sure BSA and ref and observers will band together to say the officiating was top notch!

Absolute farce. A coach steps on to the court, shoves a player who defends himself and the player gets rubbed out. That is a disgraceful decision.

Annon #996 You sir are a moron

I think that ridgeway did deserve a reprimand or even a suspension. I do not have a problem with the 4 weeks (source?) said above. However I think that the suspension should come into effect after the GF. Not a popular opinion, but only for the sole reason that we shouldn't let the losing side of a preliminary final dictate the result of the grand final.

Simple fact is, if the coach hadn't violated the sideline, NONE of this would have happened. If a player shoved a referee, would the referee also get suspended? I think not. Everybody is entitled to self defence and there is NO arguement that the coach initiated the contact by entering the confines of the court. Game over right there.

If the referee punched after the push yes he would get suspended. To the post above saying you cannot let the losing side of a preliminary final dictate the result of the grand final. They didnt, Ridgeway did when he retaliated with a punch or bitch slap.

Could you imagine the AFL saying here is a 4 weeks suspension for striking but it doesn't start till after the Grand Final!! You're smoking some serious weed to come up with that outcome mate.

Couple of umpires should be pulled up on their Wollacott performances! Terrible behaviour!

Which one? Moved to the other GF or removed?

Removed

Not when he's trying to have verbal fights with coaches and players!

Anon #110 are you clueless? No one was fighting with anyone. Be careful what you accuse someone of!

#113. I think you may not see or hear everything.

No I think you need to be careful of what you accuse people of without any evidence. Isaac is more than happy to provide IP addresses when people cross legal lines. Be very careful what you say