Sunbury Kangaroos will appeal a decision by the Riddell District Football League to strip them of the four points from their first round win against Romsey.
In a statement on the league’s website last week, the league said due to an “unfortunate administrative oversight” the Kangaroos played an uncleared player in their match against Redbacks.
The statement said as a result the club would lose the four points and their score for the first round would be nil under AFL Vic Country rule 1.3. The Redbacks have been awarded the four points.
The Kangaroos won the match against the Redbacks, 12.12 (84)-6.10 (46).
Kangaroos’ president Allan Walters said the club would appeal the decision.
“We take full responsibility for not putting in the clearance for the player and it was an oversight,” Walters said. “Everyone here volunteers and mistakes happen at times. Once we noticed the problem we notified the league.”
Walters said the league had suspended a fine and other penalties for the breach.
He said the players had been told about the oversight early last week and had responded well to it both on and off the field.
“I spoke to [coach] Jarrod [Dixon] and we said if we’re meant to make finals, we’ll make it whether we get these points back or not.”
Meanwhile on field, things continue to go the Kangaroos’ way as they snuck home in a thriller against Rupertswood on Saturday.
Having led all day the Kangaroos lost their lead in the final quarter but hit the front in the final minutes.
They got across the line by one point, 10.12 (72)-11.5 (71).
Dixon was thrilled with the win.
“We controlled them early and were really good in the first half, Rupo structured up better in the second half; they had the better of the contested ball in the third quarter,” he said.
“At three-quarter time with the five-day turnaround we thought we might have the run, but as it was close. The emotion side took over and that can get you through.
“They were all over us in the last quarter, about midway through the last quarter we flicked a switch and turned it around.”
Dixon said he was learning a lot about the players and the mental side of their game across the first three rounds.
“Obviously skills and structures we can work on, you can’t help them mentally.
“We have to control confidence and make sure it doesn’t turn into arrogance.”
