Daniel Kerr faces another suspension after striking Matty White

Daniel Kerr will be back infront of the tribunal this week after striking Richmond midfielder Matty White during yesterdays clash between West Coast and Richmond (if you could actually call it a clash, rather it resembles Mike Tyson in his prime giving a drunk and disabled homeless man a severe whooping):

With ex-Eagle Mitch Morton set to take an easy mark in Richmond’s forward 50 and White shielding Kerr a few metres away from the contest, a clearly frustrated Kerr responded by swinging his left forearm into the back of White’s head.

Kerr wasn’t reported, but Morton was awarded a 50-metre penalty for the indiscretion. If cited by the match-review panel, Kerr is likely to face a lengthy period on the sidelines given his record.

As I have mentioned before, I am a West Coast supporter, and after the grilling I gave Barry Hall last week for his behaviour against Collingwood I would be a total homer if I didn’t give Kerr similar treatment. Let me preface this by saying that I love Daniel Kerr, he was an instrumental part in the 2006 premiership and last year, with Cousins as well as Judd ineffective for significant stretches of the season, he stepped up to play career best football (before cutting things short with finger surgery).

This year, however, has been a different story. Kerr has reached, by far, the lowest point in his career. Not just because of the Eagles dismal performance (Cox can still hang his head high), but by the way he has failed to be a leader of this team. In short, the year West Coast needed him the most he has not shown up. With Cousins and Judd long gone Kerr was left to lead the young group midfielders through a very trying season. He responded by failing to handle the tagging attention given to the teams number one midfielder, and worse, by taking his frustrations out on said taggers with violent force.

Not only is this a terrible example to set for the sides youth, but it also means Kerr will miss 6 games (3 for the headbutt, and assuming 3 for the strike against White – probably modest considering Kerr’s record). By the time he returns Kerr will have played in just over 50% of games this season, with the majority of these outs being because of his own inability to control his emotions.

At the start of the season you coud have made an argument that Kerr was the best midfielder in the competition, now… well even Eagles fans are raising the possibility of trading him (this also means the Victorian media can stop the daily rumours of Kerr’s departure). It is a critical juncture in his career, with this season gone everything hangs on 2009 and how Daniel responds to the mounting criticism.