Riverine Herald |
Murray Football League has suspended four players, Tongala guns Jordan Souter and Adam Lovison, Deniliquin Rams captain Nicholas Howe and Rumbalara midfielder Nathan Kerr, not providing an adequate reason for missing interleague training.
The Murray Football League has followed through on its threat to suspend players for not providing an adequate reason for missing interleague training last month.
Tongala guns Jordan Souter and Adam Lovison, Deniliquin Rams captain Nicholas Howe and Rumbalara midfielder Nathan Kerr have all been suspended for two matches, effective immediately, after the MFL executive voted in favour of the suspensions on Monday night.
It is an unprecedented move in MFL, GVFL or HDFL history.
League general manager Dale Norman said interleague was considered a vital part in promoting the league and this was a statement it needed to make.
''It's definitely a line in the sand for the Murray Football League,'' he said.
''The Murray Football League made the tough decision to suspend four players for not participating in the interleague campaign.''
Clubs were made aware of the potential repercussions for players in an email after initial selection of the squad and the commitment policy was re-emphasised at the league meeting in May.
The players had a week to contact the coaches after the squad selection if they wanted to take no further part, with no questions asked if they withdrew in that time.
After that, they were required to attend training.
If players were injured, they still needed to attend training and have an assessment made by independent trainers.
Failure to contact the coaches or failure to attend training would incur a penalty.
''There were four players highlighted by the coaches (Scott Beattie and Ady Daly) who did not participate in training,'' Norman said.
''We expected an explanation as to why they were a non-attendance at training.
''With the evidence provided, the executive considered the responses unsatisfactory and the players were suspended for two matches effective immediately.''
Norman said the players had the opportunity to appeal and, while an appeal is ongoing, the players would be available to play.
The four players were asked to provide an explanation on June 6, before the executive met on Monday night and voted in favour of the suspensions.
''They didn't turn up to training and they didn't provide enough reasons for missing training, or the reason they missed training was unsatisfactory or was not in the time frame,'' Norman said.
It was important the league followed through on the commitment policy it introduced this year, as interleague was a big investment, Norman said.
''The league wants a commitment for interleague football,'' he said.
''We spend a lot of money on interleague. It is a huge investment and it is the clubs' money.
''We've got to ensure we're putting on a show which will credit the Murray Football League.
''I think we've been embarrassed the last two campaigns, let down by players not being involved or pulling out at the last minute.
''As we set out at the start, players had six days to contact the league or coaches if they did not want to be there.
''We had a few players do that and that was fantastic...they let us know early and we didn't have to chase or harass them.''
Norman expected the decision would create a lot of debate, which would be healthy.
''I can see the point of view from the executive, the players and the clubs,'' he said.
''We will see where it goes.''
Norman said he had not received any official notifications of an appeal, but he expected some to be sent today or tomorrow morning as it would allow the players to take part in tomorrow's matches.
If an appeal was lodged, it would be heard in the next 14 days, Norman said.
The MFL won its interleague clash against Bellarine Football League — which suspended two players in 2011 for a similar situation — 21.12(138) to 10.14(74) at Tocumwal to return to the AFL Victoria Country top 10 rankings.
By Geordie Cowan
