Two of the Southern league’s best sides will be without stars this finals series due to over-qualification

Two of the Southern league’s brightest young talents are likely to miss this year’s finals despite having played half of the season.

Two of the Southern league’s best young stars are preparing to sit out of this year’s finals despite playing half of the season for their respective clubs.

Cheltenham’s Ollie Moran and Doveton’s Deakyn Smith are looking at missing the SFNL finals after playing too many VFL games.

The Southern league deems 10 VFL games as an over-qualification for its finals.

Moran, who has played nine but is expected to play in Frankston’s wildcard round, played two VFL games before the Southern league season started.

Moran has played nine games for Cheltenham this season.

Smith, meanwhile, has played for Doveton for the past seven weeks but played the first 12 games for North Melbourne.

His eight matches for the Doves is double the Southern league’s finals requirement of four.

Smith has not played state-league football since June 23 and is likely to be in the Southern league Division 2 team of the year.

Ollie Moran has played nine VFL games and nine local games. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Southern league CEO Lee Hartman said the rule has been in place to reward players who have played throughout the home and away season.

“It’s been in for a long time that rule, we don’t really have clubs challenge it when we ask for feedback on rules year to year,” he said.

“I don’t think it really affects clubs or players but obviously this year there’s a couple it will.

“It’s pretty much worked on more than half of the local season, 18 rounds, so once you play more than nine (VFL) games, that’s when it comes into play.

“Most of the leagues have a similar rule, the games tally might be slightly different, but at the end of the day it’s been in for a long time.

“We think it’s a good rule, we think the players who play home and away should be the ones playing finals, not players who might’ve only played a handful throughout the year.”

Moran (left) was close to best afield in last year’s grand final. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hartman said the league was unlikely to adjust the rule unless there was an “overwhelming response” from clubs at the end of the year.

The VAFA requests VFL players play five local games, two of which after June 30, to be eligible for finals while the Eastern league’s over-qualification is 12 VFL home and away matches.

Doveton coach Matt Stapleton thinks an adjustment to the rule will encourage more VFL players to join the competition.

“Hopefully the league can look at the rule,” he said.

“I am pretty sure it would attract a lot of other players into the league to other clubs and continue to build the league into a stronger competition.

“I have been in the VFL system myself and the way that league is now set up is that there are byes and that allows the players to come back, qualify and it’s something they absolutely love to do.

“You get back, play with your mates and that’s the reason why you play footy … I don’t think there should be a penalty come the end of the year.”

Deakyn Smith goes for a run. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Stapleton understands why the rule is in place but thinks a “tweak” would ease the pressure on players and clubs.

“Don’t get me wrong, I understand that in some people’s eyes it can be seen as making the competition uneven in some ways but you always want to play against the best players,” he said.

“We made it really clear with Deakyn that we will be pushing him to play as high as he can for as long as he can, we wouldn’t ask him to think about qualifications, you don’t want to put a player in that position.

“It’s about giving the player the freedom ... we will always support the player but I think a rule tweak would take a lot of pressure off the players and clubs.”

Cheltenham declined to comment while other clubs with VFL-listed players said lifting both the SFNL and VFL qualification number would resolve any potential issues.