From the Border Mail
NORTH Albury president Paul Spencer has lashed out at WAFL club East Perth for refusing to let Adam Prior return home.
The Hoppers hope the clearance spat with the Royals doesn’t drag on for another week so Prior can play in Sunday’s blockbuster clash against premier Yarrawonga at Bunton Park.
The AFL is hearing the appeal, which could be decided as late as next week.
The Royals have already knocked back two clearances for the star forward, forcing him to sit out the round 1 win away to Myrtleford.
“Players go from here to there (interstate) but we don’t tend to get the same respect when players want to come home,” Spencer said.
“That’s probably the most disappointing thing.”
The Hoppers are also waiting for 2009 GVFL best-and-fairest winner Brian Durbidge to be cleared from Chiltern, with the stocky veteran forced to run water at the weekend.
An AFL Victoria Country area appeals committee is likely to rule on the clearance this week.
If either club wants to appeal the committee’s decision, they will have to pay $2500, plus a $3000 bond.
Spencer said there was more chance of the Durbidge case being resolved than Prior’s before Sunday.
“I would hope that Durbs would play and hopefully we can get Adam sorted out and he will as well,” he said.
“We’ve got to the last one with Durbidge so we should get an answer hopefully tonight or tomorrow.
“They (the appeals committee) will let us know whether his exisiting contract is valid or invalid.
“I’m not sure where the one for Prior is up to.
“We’ve sent away our submission and will get informed as it gets moved along.”
“We are also trying to do stuff behind the scenes to try to get it sorted out quicker.”
The Hoppers will be without Kade Brown (knee), Rory Feltwell (jaw) and Kyle Lieschke (ribs), while the Pigeons are likely to be without Brad Ottens and Tyler Bonat.
Spencer said he hoped Brendan Fevola would recover from knee soreness and play in what would boost the gate considerably.
“The information we are getting Fev is playing,” he said.
“To have Pettifer, Fev, Gram and Aker on the one ground ... even without those players Yarra and North have always had good games.
“We hope to get a huge crowd.”
Asked if the Hoppers had ruled out signing Andrew Lovett, Spencer said: “I believe so”.
