AFL umpires’ coach fails to win back job after ‘frog-marching’ jogger

A veteran umpires’ coach who got into a dispute with a member of the public during a training session in Sydney has had his appeal shot down by the Fair Work Commission after being stood down from the AFL last year.

The coach, Frank Kalayzich, who had worked with the AFL for nearly four decades – first as an umpire, then as a coach for other umpires – was dismissed in May last year after getting into an “altercation” with a man running laps around North Sydney Oval.

At the time of the incident, the oval had been reserved for the AFL to train umpires. During that time, Kalayzich noticed an unknown man running laps of the oval and asked him to leave, explaining that the oval was closed to the public.

The jogger refused and, for about 2½ minutes, tried to resume his run around the oval but was blocked by Kalayzich. The man then grabbed Kalayzich, after which Kalayzich grabbed the man’s shirt and pushed him towards the gate.

The jogger made a complaint to the AFL, which conducted an internal investigation and stood down Kalayzich with pay. Kalayzich attended a meeting with AFL representatives, gave his version of events, and was shown CCTV footage from the incident.

Later that month, Kalayzich was advised that allegations he had engaged in conduct “that used offfensive, intimidating and abusive verbal language” had been substantiated.

While Kalayzich argued his role was to ensure the venue and workplace were safe, the AFL said his conduct was not reasonable or appropriate in the circumstances, and ultimately terminated his employment.

Kalayzich applied for an unfair dismissal remedy but Fair Work Commission deputy president Bryce Cross last year found the dismissal was valid and not harsh, unjust or unreasonable.

Cross said CCTV footage showed the coach “wrestling, manhandling, no frog-marching” the jogger towards a gate on the oval for about a minute, as well as pushing the man and “shaping up” with his fists partially raised by his side.

Kalayzich appealed the commission’s decision on several grounds including that he, as the most senior AFL umpires’ coach during the training sessions, was responsible for the safety and security of people attending.

After hearing the appeal, the full bench of the Fair Work Commission acknowledged it was a case in which “reasonable minds might differ”, and that Cross had ultimately decided the jogger’s conduct did not justify the coach’s response.

It rejected Kalayzich’s appeal. Kalayzich and his lawyers were contacted for comment.

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