SFNL 2019: Lyndhurst awarded four premiership points after Southern league reverses result of Round 2 game

When the Moorabbin and Lyndhurst football clubs played each other eleven days ago, Moorabbin won by a solitary point. But now Lyndhurst has claimed the Southern league game by 9 points — here’s why.

Charlie Gardiner fires a shot on goal for Lyndhurst. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Eleven days after the final siren, the result of a Southern league match has been reversed because of a scoring blunder.

Lyndhurst was this afternoon declared the victor over Moorabbin and awarded the four premiership points.

Moorabbin players and supporters celebrated when the scoreboard had the Kangaroos in front 10.9 (69) to 10.8 (68) at the end of the Division 4 clash at Marriott Waters Reserve on Saturday, April 13.

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But after watching a replay of the match — all Southern league senior games are being filmed this year — Lyndhurst protested, adamant it won by nine points.

Interesting story emerging from the Southern league. Officials confirm they’re reviewing the result of the Moorabbin-Lyndhurst match. It was recorded as a one-point win to Moorabbin but Lyndhurst now believes it won by 9 points. Let’s go to the video tape....

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) April 17, 2019

Southern officials investigated and last Thursday granted Moorabbin more time to assess its position.

Today they amended the scores and overturned the result, giving the Lightning the points 10.8 (68) to 9.5 (59).

The scoreboard was wrong at halftime and again at three-quarter time and wasn’t changed.

At the last break it showed Moorabbin in front by three points when it fact it trailed by seven.

“It was established that each club had a timekeeper present for the duration of the game and we are satisfied that both clubs had an official looking over the timing of the match and therefore determine that the timings did not have an influence on the game,’’ the league said in a statement.

Hamish Browning on the go for Lyndhurst. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“However the scoreboard did, which was also controlled from the timekeepers’ box. Each timekeeper kept separate cards that had the same mistakes. It is also apparent that the goal umpires did not perform their duty in the correct manner.

“After taking all this into consideration, it is clear that Lyndhurst won the game and we have awarded the game to Lyndhurst under protest and the scores and ladder will be changed to reflect the above result.’’

Lyndhurst player David Ford told Leader: “There was talk on the day (about the scores), from both supporters, with people going to the timekeepers saying it was wrong, but they couldn’t change it as they weren’t sure what the official score was to change it to.

“But when the umpires waved the all-clear and the game got close and finished, it got forgotten about until they posted the video and we reviewed the game on the Sunday.’’

Moorabbin president Len Gould said today his club was disappointed with the decision and was investigating avenues to appeal.

He said the goal umpires should have checked and amended the scores at half time and three-quarter time.

“We pay them to adjudicate the basic principles of the game so it can be played on a fair and equal playing field,’’ Gould said.

And he said games were being filmed for the new match review panel, not to protest results.

“The bylaws (about overturning results) are not applicable to this situation,’’ he said.

“If you’re going to use video replay, then you sure as hell would want to have some policies, processes, protocols and guidelines to ensure everything is dealt with properly.’’

The belated victory made it two from two for senior coach Jamie Gaspero, who stepped up after Lyndhurst’s inaugural senior coach, Patrick Cook, stood down before Round 1.

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