AFL Queensland considers penalties for teams winning junior footy matches by too many points

AFL Queensland is considering a series of rules next season which could encourage junior footy teams to tank for fear of being penalised for winning by too many points under a Reward E-Point system.

AFL Queensland is considering a series of rules next season which could encourage junior footy teams to tank for fear of being penalised for winning by too many points under a Reward E-Point system.

Under the proposal to South East Queensland Clubs, the SEQ Junior Rules & Regulations committee has informed clubs:

+ One E-Point will be deducted where a team’s total points are 90-119 points greater than the opposition

+ Two E-Points will be deducted where a team’s total points are 120-149 points greater than the opposition

+ Three E-Points will be deducted where a team’s total points are 150 or more points greater than the opposition.

Action from a Everton Wolves and Victoria Point Sharks junior girls’ game. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Remarkably, it could result in the following scenario: a well behaved team with no discipline breaches which won no matches could finish with more points than a team which won several games, based on a combination of deductions for possible yellow cards to players, a badly behaved parent or official and deductions for winning by more than 150 points.

The E-point system, based on similar systems in Western Australia and NSW, awards bonus points on top of premiership points. Four points would be awarded to each team, but they could then incur deductions for various breaches, including poor player behaviour, and breaches by officials or parents.

A team which won a match and incurred no deductions would be awarded 8 premiership points.

Claims of unfair competition for AFL girls

“If your team is winning by 80 points at three quarter time, which does happen, what is a coach to tell his players? Stop trying,’’ said one puzzled junior volunteer.

The E-Point system, understandably, also deducts points from teams which display inappropriate behaviour or who have a player yellow or red carded.

Calamvale Leopards playing in an NAB AFL Auskicker clash at the Gabba.

But it is the proposed rules penalising teams for winning by 90 points plus which has raised concerns.

A spokesman for the AFL Queensland said in a written statement the purpose of the Reward E-Point system was to “weight game day behaviour with the same importance as winning a match and reward teams for displaying positive game day behaviour’’.

Wilston Grange and Jimboomba in action in under 17s. (AAP Image/Renae Droop)

“The system deters players, coaches and parents from engaging in negative game day behaviour prior to it taking place.

“The E-Point model will be applied to all youth competitions.

“AFL Queensland is following the example set by AFL Western Australia and AFL New South Wales who have successfully operated the E-points system.’’

AFL juniors in action at Morningside. (AAP image, John Gass)

In specific answer to concerns relating to the deduction of E-Points for teams winning by 90 plus, the statement said.

“The E-Points structure provided to SEQ clubs were examples only. The 2020 E-Point system will be released in the SEQ Junior Rules & Regulations in the New Year.

“There has been no change to the 10-goal rule for points awarded, this rule has been in place in SEQ for more than 10 years.

“The (premiership) ladder is a combined total of Competition Points + Reward E-Points.’’