THE Victorian Country Football League is expected to deliver an illicit drugs policy for country clubs.

Article first appeared: 18 August 2007   Herald Sun

VCFL officials will support the introduction of a compulsory training and education program next year.

The decision follows last Sunday's VCFL forum.

Over 100 league representatives attended the MCG forum, which also discussed alcohol and off-field behaviour.

The Victorian Police Purana Taskforce attended the forum to discuss the issue of drugs and football.

VCFL chief executive Glenn Scott said the session on drugs was an eye-opener.

"The Purana Taskforce's presentation was one of the most graphic and riveting sessions many of us in the room have ever seen," Scott said.

"Out of that came a commitment for a training and education program to be rolled out in conjunction with the Purana Taskforce.

"Some of the attendees feel it should be mandatory that any affiliated club and players should go through these presentation and education programs before the start of the season."

The VCFL will take the results of last weekend's forum to next week's biannual meeting of VCFL management and directors.

Any formal drug policies will be formulated during the meeting before being introduced around the state.

"The presentation illustrated to us what to look for in our community and football clubs when it comes to drugs," Scott said.

"It illustrated that we would be naive to think there wasn't an existence of drugs around country football clubs as it is around the general community."

Another major outcome of the forum was the vote to reduce the number of VCFL directors from nine to seven.

The change is expected to deliver a $20,000-a-year saving to the VCFL.

Scott said an increase in full-time staff reduced the need for nine directors.

"The number of directors has been sitting at nine for nearly 10 years," Scott said.

"Back when that was set up the VCFL had about four full-time staff. Now they have 17 full-time management and staff and the days of the directors having any sort of operational involvement are gone.

"We feel that seven is more than adequate."

Next week's meeting of directors will also discuss the idea of a state-wide policy on off-field behaviour.

Scott said the VCFL was supportive of an idea to introduce a blanket penalty for indiscretions off the field.