A local football side has been stripped of an elimination final win

A football side in metro Melbourne has been removed from its finals series after winning a do-or-die clash at the weekend. Here are the details.

Port Melbourne Colts elimination final win has been revoked. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)

A local football side has been disqualified from finals after it was caught fielding a number of ineligible players.

Port Melbourne Colts’ win in Sunday’s SFNL Division 1 reserves elimination final has been reversed after two players were deemed ineligible to play.

One player in question, Mitch Clarke, kicked three goals in the Colts’ 39-point win over Springvale Districts.

Clarke, who kicked 40 goals in 20 senior matches last year, was named in the Colts’ reserves for the last four home and away rounds of the year.

While four home and away matches is the Southern league’s qualification, it’s understood Clarke was the runner in one of those matches.

As per SFNL rule 40.1.1, “A team runner may enter the playing arena during the match provided that the runner has not been named in the competing team of the member club”.

Port Melbourne Colts is out of its finals campaign. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The other player, Nick Heuston, was listed for four reserves matches but played seniors after each game.

Heuston’s PlayHQ profile showed he played both seniors and reserves in round 12, 13, 15 and 18.

Under the Southern league’s ruling, the highest level match played on a singular day outweighs any lower level game from qualification.

The Colts were sanctioned under rule 36 1.3: “Any member club that breaches these rules shall be deemed to have lost the match that the breach occurred in and subject to the penalties”.

Springvale Districts will take Port Melbourne Colts’ place in this Sunday’s first semi-final against Cheltenham.

Port Melbourne Colts defeated Cheltenham in the last encounter between the two sides in round 18.

The Southern Football Netball League and Port Melbourne Colts both declined to comment.