THE Victorian Country Football League is taking the issue of illicit drugs seriously by forming an alliance with the Purana taskforce.
The VCFL has struck a deal with the unit, formed by Victoria Police to investigate Melbourne's long-running gangland wars, to talk to clubs on highly sensitive matters such as illicit drug use.
"When clubs call to say they would like someone to come out and speak that is who we use," VCFL chief executive officer Glenn Scott said. "I couldn't give an accurate figure on how many times they have been used, but certainly three or four times recently."
The VCFL doesn't have a drug policy, but the subject of drugs in country football was placed on the agenda by Ovens and Murray League club Wodonga Bulldogs, who are proposing a zero tolerance approach to drug use.
In response to the long-running drugs debate in the AFL, the Bulldogs recently assembled its leadership group and told them any player caught using illicit drugs would be sacked.
At a special forum to be held in Melbourne on August 12, drugs in country football will be one of four key subjects up for discussion.
"We want to know does it exist and, if so, to what degree and what we should be doing within the resources and infrastructure of the VCFL and the country football leagues and clubs," Scott said.
"Also what other help should we be looking for and how much responsibility should our sport carry for what is a wider community and social problem -- not meaning to dissociate ourselves from the problem.
"We are looking to discuss these issues at our forum together with the subject of alcohol and its place in the football environment."
O &M chairman Greg Claney described Wodonga's zero tolerance stance as a "very courageous move".
Football clubs can contact the VCFL on (03) 8663 3060 to arrange a session with a Purana Taskforce member.
PAKENHAM and Narre Warren could lose premiership points after they took the field with ineligible players.
The VCFL Area Appeals Board will hear separate cases concerning VFL registered players Ricky Delphine and Brad Scalzo on Wednesday.
Delphine lined up for Pakenham last Saturday without a clearance from Casey Scorpions. Narre Warren will also front the appeals board for playing Scalzo in June without a release from the Scorpions.
VCFL operations manager Brett Connell said clearances protected the VFL and VFL reserve competitions.
He said the appeals board would assess the circumstances surrounding each case before handing down fines or deducting points.
"The teams could lose four points if they won the game and a minimum fine of $500," Connell said.
"The percentage of the opposition for that particular game would increase because the score kicked against them would go back to zero."
Article first appeared: 21 July 2007 Herald Sun