VAFA bans Old Xavs from grand final over under‑19 game‑count rule

The president of a powerhouse Victorian amateur football club forced to forfeit a grand final spot has taken full responsibility for selecting an ineligible player.

Old Xaverians’ under-19 premier men’s team won its preliminary final over St Kevin’s on Saturday, but won’t contest the grand final against Old Brighton after a league investigation.

The Victorian Amateur Football Association announced late on Sunday night that the Old Xavs would receive a $100 fine and forfeit their five-point victory over St Kevin’s for breaking finals eligibility rules.

St Kevin’s, not Old Xaverians, will compete in this weekend’s grand final. This masthead is not suggesting that Old Xavs intended to break VAFA rules.

VAFA rules state that under-19s footballers cannot have played more than 12 games in the season in question in the Talent League – the AFL’s premier junior feeder competition – to retain finals eligibility.

The player in question, who was on Oakleigh Chargers’ list and in Greater Western Sydney’s academy this season, exceeded that tally, but met other eligibility criteria, which required him to play at least five games for Old Xavs, including a minimum of two after June 30.

This masthead contacted Old Xaverians president Michael Logan, general manager James Woods and under-19 coach Matthew Handley.

In a statement on the club’s website, Logan said no one at Old Xavs intended to “deceive or act dishonestly”.

“We accept full responsibility for this error, as VAFA rules state that clubs are accountable for ensuring players’ final eligibility,” Logan wrote.

“When the matter was brought to our attention, the club undertook a thorough review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the situation, including grounds for review.

“At the conclusion of that review, we made submissions to the VAFA. Upon their further investigations, the VAFA’s position was that the ineligibility decision stood. We accept that position.”

Logan said Old Xaverians had protocols in place to manage player eligibility, but that they had “failed” in this instance, so the club would review and strengthen the process to try to avoid this happening again.

“The situation was in no way the fault of the player ruled ineligible,” he said.

“The club accepts responsibility for his being in this situation and I know he has received – and appreciates – the full support of his teammates. The way both he and his family have conducted themselves during this matter is a credit to them.

“Equally, to the rest of the playing group and their families, the club apologises unreservedly.

“We are all devastated that the season has ended like this. We have been greatly heartened by the care and support they have shown one another during a really difficult time.”

St Kevin’s president Patrick Mount told this masthead on Monday it was an “unfortunate situation”, but that people at his club flagged the player’s ineligibility with the league once they noticed he played in the game.

“There have been people saying we knew about it and kept it deliberately quiet, but team sheets can be changed until the last minute, and you don’t know if a player is actually going to play until you see them on the field,” Mount said.

“I didn’t know who he was personally, but we had a number of people on our side who flagged it, and every player’s profile on PlayHQ is publicly accessible and clearly showed he played 16 games in the Talent League.

“The rule is black and white – you can’t play more than 12 [Talent League] games.

“We have great respect for them as a football club, they have very good people in charge, and I don’t think this was anything more than an administrative oversight. I don’t think it was a deliberately sinister ploy to seek an unfair advantage.”

In a statement, the VAFA said it had investigated and confirmed that Old Xaverians’ under-19 men’s team fielded an ineligible player against St Kevin’s on Saturday.

“In accordance with VAFA rule 50, ‘A club which includes a player who is not eligible in a team by which it is represented in a premiership match shall be fined as prescribed in schedule of fines contained in rule 129 ($100) and shall forfeit all matches in which such player played … each such match shall be awarded to the opposing club...’,” the statement read.

“Accordingly, St Kevin’s U19 Men’s will proceed through to the Holmesglen U19 Premier Men’s grand final match against Old Brighton U19 Men’s on Saturday, September 19 at Revo Fitness Park.”

This masthead contacted the VAFA for comment.

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