VAFA investigate Uni Blues for alleged ‘player points’ breach

A top-flight VAFA club is being investigated for breaching the 45-point limit with a former AFL star allegedly at the centre of the furore.

VAFA club University Blues. Picture: Dennis Timm Photography

A leading VAFA club could be docked points as the league investigates if they breached the 45-point limit in nine of 11 games this season.

At the centre of the investigation into the University Blues adherence to the player points rule is whether former AFL player Martin Gleeson is graded a one-point player or the maximum six points.

VAFA footy podcast host Brian Waldron said the University Blues were defending the former Essendon 97-gamer, saying he should be a one-point player because he attends the “associated” RMIT University.

“I understand that the Blues’ position is that people that go to RMIT, that by association, should also be recognised as one point players to play in the university teams,” Waldron said.

“That’s their position on that, it’s not the VAFA’s position.”

While the club will allegedly defend this according to Waldron, official player point ratings show the club have rated Gleeson as a six-point player in all 11 matches this season.

The player ratings overall also show that the University Blues have been found to be over the 45-point limit in nine of 11 games this season.

If the club were found to be in breach of the 45-point limit, it could cost them premiership points in matches where games were won and the points limit was exceeded.

University Blues said they have followed the player points rules this season and deny any commentary around the club exceeding the 45-point limit.

The VAFA is set to release a statement on the matter in the near future.

One club president, who wished to remain anonymous, said that “in the interest of the competition, it would be good to have the matter resolved soon”.

Speaking on the podcast, Waldron said the player points system needed to be cleared up so that clubs clearly understood how each player is rated.

“The issue is they got to draw the boundary,” Waldron said.

“We just want a determination so people know what they can do.”

VAFA chief executive Jason Reddick confirmed the matter was under investigation.

“Whilst the matter is under investigation, the VAFA will be making no comment until such time that an outcome is reached,” Reddick said.

The William Buck Premier and Premier B divisions will resume their seasons on July 16 after the double bye rounds.