Echuca’s winning start to the Goulbun Valley football season suffered a significant setback on Friday when it was penalised four premiership points for playing ineligible players in its senior and reserve grade teams against Rochester.
Echuca won the opening-round match by 54 points, but an administration error — which the club self reported — meant it had breached league rules.
It won the reserve-grade match by 117 points, but has had both wins taken away as a result of the clerical mistake.
It was not a perfect lead up to the match with Euroa on Saturday, but had no impact as the Murray Bombers easily beat another premiership contender in Euroa by 43 points, at Victoria Park on Saturday.
A ruling was made by AFL Victoria, in conjuncton with the Goulburn Valley Football Netball League board, at lunchtime on Friday to fine the club $1000 ($500 for each breach of the rules) and take away its premiership points from the two matches.
A new registration and game-day system, PlayHQ, has been cited by the club as part of the reason for the error. The club did not deny the players were not transferred/cleared.
The club is one of many struggling to come to terms with the new process and has indicated it will be appealing the decision by AFL Victoria and the league’s board.
Limited training for volunteer club administrators has caused problems with results, registration and insuring of players.
The functionality of the system meant that the club was unaware of the error until after the event.
It has been described the PlayHQ system as “labour intensive” with several teething problems.
Riv Herald sports journalist Josh Huntly spoke with Echuca Football Netball Club president Ash Hall and his story is on the back page today, part of the eight-page Game On feature in today’s Riv Herald.