Echuca appeal denied

By Josh Huntly

May 17, 2022

Unsuccessful: Echuca’s bid to have its penalties overturned in relation to its round one contest against Rochester has been denied. Photo: Steve Huntley Photo by Steve Huntley

Echuca Football Netball Club’s appeal to have point deductions overturned has been denied.

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Echuca was docked premiership points for fielding unregistered players in its senior and reserves victories over Rochester in round one of the Goulburn Valley League season.

The club reported the issue after the clash in April, and was subsequently stripped of points and fined $500 for each offence.

At the time, the penalties were branded “severe” by the club and an appeal against the decision was launched on April 20.

But the club was advised on Friday by the Goulburn Murray Commission that the appeal had been unsuccessful.

This means the penalties will stand and Echuca’s senior grade record of 5-1 will remain.

The Murray Bombers currently sit second on the GVL ladder.

Echuca’s reserves hold a 3-3 record following the decision, sitting sixth on the ladder.

Echuca co-coach Simon Maddox believed the club would be shown leniency in the matter, but it wasn’t to be.

“We’ve been kicked in the guts a bit as a club with the points,” Maddox said.

“We really feel it was just an honest mistake by a volunteer.

“We figured (PlayHQ) is a new system, mistakes are made and we get our points back.”

AFL Goulburn Murray regional manager Shaun Connell offered this response to Echuca’s claims on Monday evening.

“Our position is consistent with the communication that was forwarded to the club last week,” Connell said.

“In making its decision, the commission has considered the written submissions from Echuca Football Netball Club, the GVL and relevant AFL, AFL Victoria, Goulburn Murray rules and policies.

“That commission dismissed the appeal on that the fact that the two players in question failed to seek a transfer from their previous clubs as required under the National Transfer Regulations.

“It also found that the current competition and member database system did not influence the players’ ineligibility as contested by the Echuca Football Netball Club in their written submission.”

Echuca is yet to lose a game since the incident, currently on a five-game tear in the GVL to firm as one of the premiership favourites.