By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Thunder is expected to appeal against the red card given to teenage star Andrew Mullett during the Victorian Premier League preliminary final on Saturday.
Mullett was left inconsolable after the game in which he was sent off in the 54th minute after the referee deemed him the last defender following his tackle on a Green Gully player.
Despite Mullett appearing to get the ball first and the Thunder possibly having other defenders nearby the referee gave Mullett a straight red card.
In football, a red card results in an automatic suspension the next match. For the Thunder, that’s the VPL grand final against Oakleigh Cannons at AAMI Park starting at 5.30pm this Sunday.
Mullett, who has won a youth league contract with A-League club Melbourne Heart, got staunch support from Thunder coach Chris Taylor after the match, which the Thunder still won 4-1.
Taylor said the club would urge VPL officials to review the video of the incident. He also didn’t rule out appealing against the red card in a bid to allow Mullett to play.
“Andrew has played every minute of every game this season,” Taylor said. “If that is a red card then there is something seriously wrong with football. You need a bit of luck. Maybe we had a bit today, but the way the referee was dishing out cards today, he will get a job in the Crown Casino.”
Thunder forward Luke Sherbon said he and his teammates had to console their young left back.
“We are devastated for the young kid Andrew. He has been ever-present all season,” Sherbon said. “In my opinion he’s one of the best young players in the league. We walked in the change rooms and — this is testament to the character of the team — instead of celebrating and jumping around we saw the kid was crying, so we went to him. Fingers crossed, he can play.”
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