 LAST weekend an unprecedented event occurred in country
football. In the Alberton league, the second semi-final was
contested by two clubs that had not previously met in the
home-and-away season.
The unique match-up between Wonthaggi Power and Yarram was the
result of a saga that now dates back almost four years.
It is a fight that has involved many unsuccessful interventions
by the VCFL, lawyers, threats to start a new league and, earlier
this season, a controversial forfeit.
The fracas began in late 2004 when Wonthaggi's two football
clubs — the Blues and Rovers — merged to form the
Power.
Previously the Blues had played in Gippsland's strongest
competition, taking on teams such as Warragul and Traralgon. Rovers
had been part of the Alberton Football League, which is based
around far smaller communities.
In somewhat of a surprise, the newly formed Power, now the only
football club in a town of about 7000 people, applied to enter the
minor league. Its committee justified the decision by stating it
was for the sake of junior players, who resented making the long
trips east to Sale and Maffra.
Amid murmurs of discontent from clubs such as Stony Creek and
Fish Creek, which have local populations of barely 200, Wonthaggi
was admitted to the Alberton league for the 2005 season, on the
proviso it would leave if proven too strong.
Wonthaggi's senior team then made the grand final in its first
three years, winning two. The reserves and juniors were similarly
strong.
But despite this evidence, Wonthaggi's members and
administrators refused to step up to a stronger competition.
Meanwhile, the Power's rivals became more disgruntled by the
day. Initially, they turned to the VCFL for help.
Country football's governing body reviewed the situation and
ordered Wonthaggi to begin playing against towns its own size. In
response, the Power's administration launched legal action.
Earlier this year a temporary settlement was reached. Wonthaggi
would stay in the Alberton league for 2008 and 2009, but if voted
out this time, it would finally move on.
With the legally binding agreement in place, the VCFL thought
the matter was under control. But Wonthaggi's rivals did not.
Six months ago, a number of clubs began meeting to plot a more
rapid resolution. They considered forming a breakaway league. They
also discussed flatly refusing to play against the Power.
No solid agreement had been reached when, in a bold move,
Yarram's committee unanimously decided to take matters into its own
hands.
The Demons, who defeated Wonthaggi in the 2007 senior grand
final, are located in a town of more than 2000 people. They were
fixtured to play the Power just once in the 2008 home-and-away
season and that was to take place in round six, on May 17.
In a move that has since been described as courageous and crazy,
they refused to travel, instead forfeiting all their football and
netball matches.
Not impressed, the VCFL slapped Yarram with a $6500 fine, half
of which was suspended.
"Yarram made a stand. They believed it was the correct thing to
do. We don't," said Wonthaggi Power president Rob Tesoreiro.
"But I think the VCFL's action certainly stymied anyone else
going ahead with the same thing."
Instead of following the Demons' lead, others simply helped pay
their fine.
"We didn't just do it for us," said Yarram vice-president Jack
Millier. "We did it for all the little clubs."
Those sides subsequently fronted up against Wonthaggi and lost,
some by more than 30 goals. The Power ended the regular season
undefeated.
In a twist, Yarram shrugged off its self-inflicted loss, and the
departure of half-a-dozen premiership players, to finish second on
the ladder.
That led to last Saturday's historic occasion, when Yarram, with
its team featuring two 15-year-olds, and Wonthaggi had their first
meeting for the year in the finals.
A big crowd turned out for the clash, played under grey skies at
Tarwin. Yarram supporters, decked out in bright red jumpers,
crowded behind the goals at one end and made their presence felt in
front of the clubrooms.
Wonthaggi backers, waving teal and white flags and streamers,
dominated the outer side of the ground.
During the first three quarters, the match was closely fought
and little of the anticipated tension between the clubs was
evident.
"There's no animosity towards Wonthaggi," said Yarram president
Peter Jenkins. "Our only bitch with them is they're playing in the
wrong comp. They're a good club, just playing in the wrong
competition."
Some of Jenkins' fellow committee members weren't quite as
positive. "People don't come to the footy happy any more,"
despaired Millier, a butcher at the local supermarket.
Yet Millier delighted in talking about a recent league meeting,
at which he thanked a number of clubs for helping to pay the fine.
"Others then offered more," he said with a grin.
On the field, emotions briefly boiled over in the last quarter
when Wonthaggi, led by veteran full-forward Rod Tack, booted 10
unanswered goals to win its way through to a fourth consecutive
grand final.
A scuffle broke out between the players shortly before the final
siren. When the game ended, Yarram's runner launched a tirade at
the Power supporters.
"Get a new committee," came the reply from a bushy-bearded
member of the Wonthaggi faithful.
The 64-point victory all but secured another flag for the Power.
Yet it is almost certain they will finally be looking for a new set
of opponents in 2010.
A week ago, Alberton league clubs were asked to decide whether
Wonthaggi should stay beyond 2009. The results will be released in
the coming month.
Should the vote force a move as expected, the Power's most
obvious new home would be in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean
league's Casey-Cardinia competition, which includes Packenham,
Beaconsfield and Tooradin-Dalmore. Before then, the VCFL has, as
part of the settlement with Wonthaggi, embarked on another
restructure of Gippsland football, to attempt to find the best
result.
"Until we're advised of anything otherwise, we'll concentrate on
what we're doing here in the Alberton Football League, where we
enjoy playing out football and our netball," said Tesoreiro.
"We need to come up with a formula that all clubs can survive
in. At the moment we are putting our faith in that restructure and
we will abide by that."
By Adam McNicol
Article first appeared The Sunday Herald Sun, September 7th, 2008
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