Blues dish out ban to guilty Scotland

CARLTON has suspended Heath Scotland for the opening two rounds of the AFL premiership season after the veteran pleaded guilty to an assault charge.

Scotland – the Blues' reigning club champion – will be available for selection in the NAB Cup but will play for Carlton’s VFL affiliate the Northern Blues during his suspension.

The Blues also ordered Scotland to make a $3000 donation to a related charity after admitting his role in a fight at the Mulwala Ski Club in January last year.

The AFL has endorsed the sanction.

Carlton football manager Andrew McKay said Scotland was punished because it was deemed he had not meet the club’s high expectations for player conduct.

"The club is very disappointed in Heath’s actions as they did not uphold Carlton’s core values and behaviours," he said.

"Heath has expressed considerable remorse for his actions and … understands this is a serious matter and accepts the club’s reasoning."

Scotland will make the $3000 donation to Les Twentyman’s 20th Man organisation, which provides educational, sporting and counselling services to the homeless and disadvantaged, and which Scotland has worked with over the past 12 months.

In October, Scotland was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond over the incident.