Echuca experienced a bittersweet weekend of football.
The Murray Bombers’ round-two win over Euroa was tinged with frustration after the Goulburn Valley League (GVL) stripped Echuca of its round-one senior and reserve-grade premiership points.
This comes after it was revealed two unregistered players took the field in both sides’ victories over Rochester.
Echuca reported the issue to the GVL on Monday morning, and on Friday a GVL ruling found the club guilty under Vic Country Rule 1.3 of fielding unregistered players.
Echuca’s premiership points from both matches have been reversed, with fines totalling up to $1000 also applied, but suspended until the end of 2023.
Echuca won the senior game by 53 points while the reserves had a resounding 117-point victory.
The Murray Bombers say ongoing difficulties with new administration system PlayHQ played a factor in the incident.
A club statement reads: “The introduction of the new PlayHQ registration and game day system implemented in season 2022 has caused many headaches for clubs trying to navigate their way through this new system.
“Clubs have even been encouraged to work collaboratively to sort out issues as they are found.
“Our administrators are still working hard to avoid errors and inconsistencies that remain in this system for round two for all of our teams to have players registered or permitted to be placed on the team sheet.
“Echuca FNC are extremely disappointed with the penalties applied and have sourced advice as to how to proceed from here through an appeal process. We are very concerned by the lack of leniency to our volunteer administrators.
“The club cannot deny the fact the players were not transferred/cleared.
“However, our submission to the GVL Board identified the error through our own self reporting and identified how this oversight occurred. It was a simple oversight made by our club administrator who noted all players were ‘identified as Echuca players and on the team sheet for R1 against Rochester.”
Echuca president Ash Byrne claimed the penalties levelled at the club were “incredibly severe”.
“As a club we have made an error, which was certainly not intended. We believe that the penalties dealt are incredibly severe on our teams and the club,” Byrne said.
“We endeavour to be the best club possible and ensure we fulfil our obligations to the Goulburn Valley League.”
It’s unclear if an appeal will be made at the current time.
Echuca registered a 45-point win over fellow GVL contender Euroa on Easter Saturday.
The Murray Bombers sit fifth on the ladder.