No name on a team sheet costs NTFL club Waratah a first up win and four premiership points

WARATAH president Paul Gross says his club can only blame itself for the loss of four premiership points

Waratah on-baller Brodie Carroll’s name was missing from his club’s team sheet during Saturday’s crucial game against the Buffaloes.

WARATAH president Paul Gross says his club can only blame itself for the loss of four premiership points.

Tahs were stripped of the match points they earned for beating the Darwin Buffaloes last week for fielding a player who was not on their official team sheet.

Small forward Brodie Carroll ran out with the Premier League side and played for several minutes before the error was discovered.

The resultant 60-0 points win to the Buffaloes means they retain their undefeated record on top of the Premier League ladder and Tahs remain winless in second last position.

AFLNT Bylaw 3.9.2 states if club submit a team sheet that does not accurately represent the team that took the field during the match, they will be deemed to have forfeited the match.

“You’ve got the rules, so you must abide by them, otherwise it’s total anarchy,’’ Gross told the NT News.

“For our part it was an innocent human error made by our volunteers and in the end we’re all volunteers, not professional AFL people.

“Every now and then human error is going to occur, it’s part and parcel of running any sporting club when you are not a paid professional.’’

Gross said his club brought the absence of Carroll’s name on the team sheet to the league’s matchday manager as soon as officials became aware of it.

“We immediately sought instructions and were advised to pull Brodie from the ground, which we did straight away and he took no further part in the game.’’

Despite the setback, Gross said the entire club was focused on beating Southern Districts in Saturday’s match at TIO Stadium.

“Everybody’s moved on and are more focused on the game against the Crocs than what happened last week,’’ Gross said.

“The integrity of our volunteers is well and truly intact, now we move on and start winning games of football.’’