Sport
1 May, 2026
Suspended Payne stays out of rooms
FERGUS Payne’s much-anticipated return to Inglewood has been put on hold, with the Macorna coach suspended by the Loddon Valley league tribunal for three matches after being found guilty of making contact with an opponent’s eyes.
Payne, who last season coached Inglewood to its best league finish in more than 20 years, was charged after the round two clash with Mitiamo.
He chose to go to the tribunal to contest the charge of “making unreasonable or unnecessary contact to the eye region of another player” but was unsuccessful and is unable to coach or play while banned.
Payne missed his side’s third consecutive win in its first Loddon Valley season against Bears Lagoon Serpentine last Sunday.
He will also be absent for the Inglewood match on Saturday and the round five game against Newbridge.
The club has given Payne its full support after the incident, in which he wrestled with Mitiamo’s Zach Morrison while trying to break free from a lingering high tackle.
Macorna president Tenielle Edge later described it as “a choke hold”.
On the field, Payne won a free kick from the exchange, but he was subsequently charged by the Match Review Panel.
He trod a careful path against Serp in the first week of his suspension, seen crossing the field carrying a clipboard and briefly entering the Macorna rooms during the reserves match but remaining a spectator during the senior game and not stepping on to the ground.
A league official was asked after the game if Payne could go into the rooms for the post-match celebrations.
His reply was non-committal, but Macorna erred on the side of caution and Payne did not return to the clubrooms.
He left the Inglewood coaching role after two seasons following an acrimonious falling out with the Woodies’ committee.
Macorna appointed Payne as its inaugural coach in the LVFNL, and the Tigers have proved to be a surprise packet with three impressive wins. Saturday’s match promises to be a willing affair even without its central figure.
Midfielder/forward Seb Erharter and key defender Josh Whittle followed Payne north to
Macorna and are sure to get some special attention from their Woodies’ opponents.
It is a crunch match for Inglewood, which is winless in its 150th year after playing three of last season’s fellow finalists in Pyramid Hill, Marong and Bridgewater to begin the season.
First season Inglewood coach Jackson Hood said everyone was aware of the Inglewood connection at Macorna, “but we just want to start winning games of footy”.
- GARY WALSH