Liberal candidate apologises after six-week ban over under-14s basketball conduct

Two sources, speaking anonymously to detail tribunal proceedings that were not made public, told The Age about the case, and documents verified by The Age show Lindemann was suspended for six weeks for a charge of "bringing the game into disrepute". The ban covered any games run by Basketball Victoria or its affiliated associations Australia-wide.

The suspension stemmed from a complaint about a February 2025 game between the Bay City Lakers and the Altona Pirates, where Lindemann coached the Lakers. A report collected from witness statements alleged he shouted aggressively at an under-14s Pirates player, followed her up and down the court, and clapped and cheered sarcastically when she made a mistake. It was also alleged he made remarks to other parents after the game, including words to the effect of "she is crap".

In a statement on Tuesday, Lindemann apologised for his actions. "During a game I was coaching, one of my players was thrown to the ground behind the play. My first instinct was to protect my player, and I entered the court to check on their welfare," he said. "In doing so, I called out an opposition player over their conduct towards my player." He added: "While I will always stand up for my players, I acknowledge I should have handled the situation differently and should not have entered the court. I apologise for my actions." Lindemann said he served out his suspension and then continued to coach "without incident", saying basketball had been an important part of his life and he had always been passionate about supporting young players.

Lindemann contested the charges at the time, but a hearing in March last year found him guilty of "bringing basketball into disrepute". His appeals, including to the National Sports Tribunal, were ultimately unsuccessful. He argued he was not provided with witness statements and did not know CCTV would be used in the hearing, so he could not respond comprehensively to questions. He disputed that he used the phrase "she is crap", claiming instead he said "the actions of that player were crap, and anyone who plays basketball like that should not be playing". He also raised concerns about the conduct of other parents at the match, alleging it was threatening and should have drawn sanctions.

Basketball Victoria confirmed the suspension, saying Lindemann's bid to challenge it was unsuccessful because it "did not meet the grounds for appeal". A spokesperson said: "Basketball Victoria takes complaints of aggressive behaviour seriously and handles them in line with the applicable policies and by-laws."

Williamstown has been held by Labor for all but four years since 1889, with a double-digit two-party preferred margin at every election since the 1940s. Local MP and government frontbencher Melissa Horne retained the seat four years ago with a two-party-preferred margin of 13.4 per cent. Lindemann joined the Liberal Party last year and has been prominent in the electorate, appearing at railway stations, on billboards and at party events. Last month, Horne acknowledged the challenge, telling The Age: “We are up against it; it's 12 years [of Labor]. But we have got some really good policies that are resonating in the community.”