Hawks coach to miss large chunk of 2026 season

EAGLEHAWK has failed in its bid to have a ten-week suspension meted out to co-coach Clayton Holmes following this year’s BFNL grand final reduced on appeal

The 2025 season premiers had sought to have the penalty downgraded on the grounds of it being “manifestly excessive” and not being afforded the opportunity to plead their case in regard to the penalty at the original tribunal hearing.

But the appeal was dismissed last week.

Holmes was originally found guilty of striking Sandhurst’s Dayten Uerata after the quarter-time siren of the grand final.

The incident came after the Hawks’ co-coach had just kicked his side’s first goal of the match.

It was graded by the match review officer as intentional conduct, high contact and severe impact, with the concussed Uerata unable to return to the field afterwards.

Following a tribunal hearing that lasted over an hour, Holmes – who was yellow-carded and sidelined for the first 20 minutes of the second quarter – was suspended for five matches.

That penalty was upgraded to 10 matches with the addition of discretionary grand final loading.

In a statement released on the club’s Facebook page, the Hawks acknowledged the tribunal process, while disagreeing with the outcome.

“The EFNC wish to acknowledge the outcome of the appeal tribunal’s decision last evening to uphold the Bendigo Football Netball League 10 week suspension of our co-coach Clayton Holmes,” the statement read.

“We continue to be of the view that the original tribunal penalty is manifestly excessive and have appreciated the support of much of the general football community and other clubs in supporting that view, and whilst we don’t agree with the penalty, we respect the process and will now move on to next season.

“The appeal tribunal found that the original tribunal hearing did not give Clayton an opportunity for natural justice, however the penalty handed down was not overturned.

“The EFNC fully supports Clayton and continues to hold him in the highest regard as both a footballer, co-coach of our club, but more importantly a good person.

“We acknowledge the injury caused to Dayten Uerata and sincerely wish him a speedy recovery.”

Holmes, who kicked four goals in the grand final, including three in the Hawks’ stirring final quarter comeback, will now miss over half of the 2026 season.