FOOTBALL

MID GIPPSLAND

By LIAM DURKIN

 

ONCE is a mistake, twice is a choice.

Fish Creek has been docked four premiership points following its second player points infringement this season.

The Kangaroos are currently third on the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League senior ladder on 44 points with 11 wins.

While 11 multiplied by four is 44, teams are awarded four points for the bye.

Fish Creek has had one bye this season.

The Kangaroos went over their points in Round 3 against Hill End.

On that occasion, they escaped with what amounted to a slap on the wrist by way of a $1000 fine from AFL Gippsland.

There was no such leniency for the second offence however, after a breach was discovered following the Round 7 win against MDU.

The club has maintained its was a genuine mistake to allocate three points instead of four to new recruit Jye Douthat.

Douthat joined the club from Wonthaggi over the off season. He has played at three different clubs in three years, meaning he should have attracted four points.

“It was a genuine mistake. He registered at one of the clubs but didn’t play. That was our oversight, but we’ve now put additional checks in place to see it doesn’t happen again,” a club official told the South Gippsland Sentinel Times.

Douthat has only played two senior games this season. He did not play in the game against Hill End. Fish Creek was at 40 points of a 39-point allocation for that game, which it won by 55 points.

AFL Gippsland has offered the club a refresher course on the player points system.

The governing body has attracted criticism though for taking the path of least resistance by not awarding points to Hill End or MDU.

Both clubs are in tight race for finals. The Demons are fourth on 36 points, two points clear of the Rovers in sixth.

Hill End coach Tom Hallinan said while he wouldn’t try and fight city hall for the points, he would happily take them all the same (as anyone would).

“It’s not how you ever want to gain four points, but if I was handed an envelope and it said ‘there’s four points’, I will not be too displeased,” he said.

“We’re all under the same jurisdiction and same guidelines, we have our checks and balances at our end.

“If you want to run your points that close … checks and balances go a long way.

“Two indiscretions in a season – you start to raise some eyebrows.”

The punishment could cost Fish Creek a top-two spot, meaning no double chance come finals.

The saga could also spill into next season, when each club receives its total player points allocation.