Melbourne icon Garry Lyon has launched a scathing critique of a juror in the Zak Butters tribunal hearing, who left to drive somewhere during the proceedings, calling it “embarrassing” and suggesting it makes the AFL resemble a “circus”.
During a virtual tribunal session on Tuesday afternoon, Port Adelaide’s Butters was found guilty of questioning umpire Nick Foot during Sunday’s clash with St Kilda, asking, “How much are they [the Saints] paying you?”
On Wednesday night, the Power issued a statement confirming they would be appealing the guilty ruling.
It was revealed during the tribunal that one of the two jurors, Jason Johnson, had jumped into his car to head to a prior engagement.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Wednesday, Lyon didn’t hold back.
“Sometimes we need to save ourselves from ourselves,” Lyon remarked.
“If it were me, and my reputation was at stake in a fiercely contested situation where details matter, I wouldn’t want the person deciding my fate to be on the road, in a car.”
Zak Butters during Sunday’s match against St Kilda. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I want them seated, taking meticulous notes, cross-referencing, listening closely without distractions from the outside world. Being in a car raises concerns about connectivity, and what if you lose signal while passing by the local McDonald’s?
“It’s embarrassing at the least.”
“How would that resonate on a global scale?
“This is a multibillion-dollar enterprise, and we expect nothing but the highest standards across all facets of our football community. The world is observing us; they see how we conduct our cases, how we present our closing arguments. And where’s the jury? One of them is on the road.
“What does that even look like?”
Johnson served alongside Darren Gaspar as the jurors in the tribunal hearing, which was led by Renee Enbom.
“I’m not targeting Jason Johnson; it seems there may have been some last-minute changes. We need to improve our standards,” Lyon added.
“I understand there are other factors involved, but having a juror who is about to make a critical decision on a contentious issue in a car is just unacceptable. It’s a matter of integrity, and the timing is sensitive. And where’s the juror? Off to attend something important while we’re deliberating?
“Come on – this truly makes us look like a circus.”
Wide World of Sports reached out to the AFL for a response.
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