Ó hAilpín banned but receives support from Blues

Setanta Ó hAilpín would appear to have a future with his AFL club the Carlton Blues after all despite last week’s flare-up at a training session. Ó hAilpín was handed a four-game ban at an AFL disciplinary hearing earlier today.

Initially, that ban applied exclusively to regular season matches. But Carlton, who had been considering whether to release the big Cork man from his contract, since appealed the ban and it will now apply to pre-season games as well.

Carlton’s decision to lodge that appeal, and have Ó hAilpín available for the start of the season, would suggest a willingness to keep the player at the club, at least until his current deal expires at the end of the year.

Ó hAilpín was punished after punching and kicking teammate Cameron Cloke during an explosive training ground incident on Friday. He remains suspended indefinitely from all club activities and still has to undergo anger management therapy.

The 25-year-old is currently training with Carlton’s lower league affiliate, the Northern Bullants.

Cloke has since accepted an apology from Ó hAilpín and hopes the incident can now be forgotten about.

"I'm fine with everything," Cloke said at the weekend. "I just think it's been blown out of proportion. "We're sweet, we're fine. We're teammates. I'm just letting it roll."