Tara Murray
Kyneton will get the full four points from its match with Castlemaine that was abandoned earlier in the Bendigo Football League season.
The league released a statement on behalf of the league, the clubs and the umpires association saying all parties unanimously supported the outcome.
The day’s play was called off following the death of Castlemaine player Dallas Keogh-Frankling from a knock earlier in the under-18s match.
“Immediately following the tragic incident during round six on May 27, 2023, both the senior football and A-grade netball matches were classified as ‘abandoned’ with both competing teams awarded two-premiership points each, as an insignificant action on match day as our united primary focus became the immediate welfare of impacted players, families, club members, umpires, officials, and spectators on the day,” the statement said.
“With the benefit of an appropriate period of reflection supported by further investigation, both competing clubs and the BUA, with the support of the BFNL Board, unanimously agree that the Castlemaine FNC senior football team declared to relevant appointed match officials and the direct opposition that their team was ‘forfeiting’ the senior football match on the day as a direct result of the tragic death of a CFNC under-18 player.
“This version of events is fully substantiated by both competing clubs.
“Therefore, the current allocation of two-premiership points each for the round six senior match will be adjusted, with the Kyneton FNC to be awarded four premiership points, and Castlemaine FNC zero premiership points.
No best and fairest votes will be awarded for the game.
The BFNL board in consultation with the competing clubs will calculate the average percentage at the conclusion of round nine, which is the time at which each team has played each other once, offering a true reflection of season average points for and points against and adjust percentage accordingly.
Meanwhile, the A-grade netball match will remain abandoned and each team awarded two points each.
Both clubs recently expressed a combined desire to explore the possibility of rescheduling this match to be played on a new date as negotiated and agreed by the competing teams.
The BFNL board fully supported the combined club request to negotiate a mutually agreed time and date for match reschedule, however, unfortunately due to a variety of reasons the teams were unable to agree on a mutually suitable date to reschedule the A-Grade game.
