Dylan Walker reportedly stood down in first case of ‘no fault stand down’ call
Manly star Dylan Walker has reportedly become the first player to be stood down under the NRL’s landmark new rules for accused players.
EXCLUSIVE | Ray Hadley reveals Manly Sea Eagles player Dylan Walker will be stood down at midday, under the NRL's new 'no-fault stand-down' policy.
A Manly court heard earlier this week that Walker’s fiance, Alexander Ivkovic, said in a triple-zero call to emergency services that Walker allegedly pulled her hair.
She has since changed that statement.
“After the fact, I realised he did not pull my hair, that’s what I believed at the time, but he reached out to grab my shoulder, not my hair — that got in the way,” she said.
“When everyone left I had a chance to breathe and think — I reached out to family and friends and realised I was recalling things differently to what had happened.”
Dylan Walker reportedly will miss almost half the season.
The attack allegedly occurred on a concrete driveway outside their home on Sydney’s northern beaches, between 4.45pm and 5pm on December 6 after an argument over a PlayStation.
In footage tendered in court, Ivkovic tells the officer a fight started when she made dinner and asked Walker if he wanted a fork or a spoon.
In a triple zero call, Ms Ivkovic said Mr Walker pulled her hair, causing her to fall onto a concrete driveway while she held their four-month-old.
Greenberg said on Thursday he would consider his discretionary powers “wisely” before making his decision on whether Walker should be stood down on full pay.
“Tomorrow, I will be sitting in the same chair providing some clarity on a number of off-field integrity sanctions,” he said.
“The policy has just been made this morning so I wouldn’t mind a few minutes just to regroup and consider that the first time I apply discretion under the policy I do it wisely and considered.”
Dylan Walker and fiance Alexandra Ivkovic leave Manly court.
Wests Tigers recruit Zane Musgrove also faces a charge of indecently assaulting a 22-year-old woman, to which both he and co-accused Penrith reserve grader Liam Coleman have pleaded not guilty.
Musgrove’s contract has not yet been registered by the NRL, while Coleman falls outside the Panthers’ top 30.
“Where such charges involve an offence of violence against women or children, and there will be a strong presumption that the CEO exercises discretion to impose a provisional stand down,” ARL chairman Peter Beattie said as he announced the powers.
Players who are stood down while cases are before the courts will still receive full pay and be allowed to train with their clubs for welfare reasons.
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