Gippsland: Player points fines can be dropped with training session attendance
AFL Gippsland has given clubs with fines hanging over their heads a chance to have them wiped. Find out how.
Victoria
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Gippsland’s 71 football clubs with suspended fines hanging over their heads for two years have been presented with an option to have them wiped.
A region-wide audit of player points allocations since the end of last season led to more than $300,000 worth of suspended fines being handed out to clubs by AFL Victoria.
But in a fresh twist to the saga, AFL Gippsland has announced clubs which attend one of five training sessions on how to assess player points allocations to be held in the new year will have their fines wiped.
Some clubs have received suspended fines of $6000 for up to four cases worth $1500 each where incorrect tallies were given to players.
AFL Gippsland regional manager Cameron McPhan said the latest move was a chance to “reset” for 2023.
“I am pleased that we can offer the opportunity to revoke the suspended penalties, reset the region by supporting clubs with training, education and a region review of player points system allocations which aligns to the compliance requirements in the policy to mitigate the risks which have been exposed at all levels during 2023,” he said.
“Club volunteers have recognised that breach notices were warranted and acknowledge that the (system) is necessary.
“However they were concerned that given the suspended penalties, further incorrect assessments could occur without the additional support required from the region and therefore provisions provided to revoke the penalties have been well received by clubs across the region.”
Sale City president Michael Clapton said “commonsense” had prevailed.
“They’re looking to get buy in from all the clubs in relation to the training and having all the points sorted out before the start of next season,” he said.
“Volunteers are now going to have training they require which wasn’t case this year.
“The right steps are now in place.”
McPhan confirmed the introduction of a player points panel to consider applications from clubs for additional points and individual player requests for reassessment.
Player points training sessions will be held from February 6 at Bairnsdale, Sale, Morwell, Warrgul and Wonthaggi.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE
Country football volunteers are being sought to assist AFL Gippsland deal with player points and salary cap issues next season.
The call for help comes after AFL Victoria handed out suspended fines of about $300,000 after the discovery of player points breaches at more than 70 Gippsland clubs this year.
Fines were capped at $6000 per club and have been suspended for two seasons.
The Gippsland Community Club Sustainability Program committee will “assist” with the reassessment of player point allocations and salary cap concession bids made by clubs.
Key criteria for committee members include an understanding of the points system and salary cap, strong knowledge of football in Gippsland and no present role at a league or club.
The committee will be in place from February to September next year with the transfer window for players not opening until February next year.
The committee will report to AFL Gippsland regional manager Cameron McPhan, who started in the role late in the season.
In confirming the suspended fines to Gippsland clubs last month, AFL Victoria’s John O’Dononue said: “There is room for improvement at all levels and it serves as a warning for everyone to do better”.
Clubs expressed concerns to The Weekly Times about the absence of somewhere to check player points allocations this year and difficulty accessing player histories with the introduction of the PlayHQ administration platform.
AFL Victoria spokesman Nick Hulet said: “AFL Victoria aims to have a level of consistency across the state in the way the Community Club Sustainability Program is managed and reviewed.
“A statewide advisory group has been set up to look at the CCSP holistically, while regions and metro leagues may have processes in place to manage the policies on a local level.
“In the case of Gippsland, they are establishing a dedicated committee comprising volunteers.
“In other regions they may be set up differently but will have access to the tools provided by AFL Victoria.”
EARLIER COVERAGE
AFL Victoria has dished out suspended fines totalling nearly $300,000 for breaches of the player points system uncovered at 70-plus country football clubs across Gippsland, with every individual blunder copping a penalty fee of $1500.
The fines issued to clubs have been capped at $6000, which equates to four errors in calculating a player’s points allocation, and have been suspended for two seasons.
An initial breach by Warragul Industrials for incorrect allocations was discovered during the West Gippsland league finals series and led to the club being fined $3000, with another $500 suspended.
But AFL Victoria’s John O’Donohue said Warragul Industrials’ punishment had been changed to a suspended fine as part of a “consistent” approach after discovering the problem was more widespread.
“There is room for improvement at all levels and it serves as a warning for everyone to do better,” he said.
“Everyone starts next year with a clean slate that every player is correct.
“There will be some training provided in the new year and that will be statewide.
“It’s up to clubs to turn up and be diligent to get everything right.”
The Weekly Times spoke to multiple club officials who were adamant problems were largely due to teething problems with the PlayHQ administration system introduced this year, but weren’t prepared to comment on the record.
PlayHQ contains player histories that determine what point allocation each player receives.
Former AFL Gippsland commissioner John White said AFL Victoria and AFL Gippsland were avoiding blame in the issue.
“In what has become an unacceptable but usual defence, AFL Victoria immediately placed the responsibility and blame onto the hundreds of volunteers navigating what is often seen as a complex set of criteria,” he said.
“Good leadership and management by AFL Victoria and AFL Gippsland would have avoided this becoming a very divisive matter.”
Warragul Industrials official Nick Gooden, who was responsible for the interpretations at the club that ultimately led to the fines, said he was “thankful the footy club doesn’t have to find $3500 for a mistake I made”.
“If you do the wrong thing there should be a punishment,” he said.
“But when 60 or 70 clubs in the region are making the same mistake there is more to it.
“Hopefully this is a line-in-the-sand moment for the player point system because I’m sure it’s not just Gippsland that has got it wrong.”
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