Gippsland league finals eligibility by-laws ‘superseded’ by AFL rules for first time

Two of Gippsland’s biggest names will be watching from the sidelines come finals time after a change to VFL player eligibility. See the details.

Gippsland flag contenders Leongatha and Moe will be robbed of homegrown star power including Dyson Heppell and Riley Baldi at finals time after a mid-season call on VFL-listed player eligibility.

VFL players have previously only needed to play four matches for their aligned club to qualify for finals under Gippsland league by-laws.

But, for the first time, if a player has played more than 12 VFL matches they are ruled out, which is the case in the majority of other country football leagues including neighbouring West Gippsland.

Gippsland league general manager Daniel Heathcote said: “AFL Gippsland have advised us that their AFL Victoria Country rule regarding VFL players finals eligibility supersede any local competition by-laws.

“Gippsland league has made no change to our rules regarding finals eligibility.”

Leongatha coach Trent McMicking and Moe coach Leigh Poholke believe the mid-season change will dramatically alter recruiting strategies in future seasons.

In last year’s Gippsland grand final, Tristen Waack was eligible to play for premiers Traralgon despite playing 15 matches for the Northern Bullants and Cam Olden played for Leongatha after playing 16 matches for Richmond.

Riley Baldi playing for Moe last season against Traralgon. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Heppell and Baldi have already played 11 matches for Port Melbourne and Casey Demons this season.

Moe also signed Frankston captain Tom Murphy in the hope of having him available for finals.

“Gippsland has always had VFL players come back,” Poholke said.

“I don’t mind the rule, but to bring it in halfway through the year is unfair.

“We would have gone down a different recruitment path had we known the rule was going to be changed.

“Tom Murphy is a great player, but we only went after him because of the rule that was in place.

“We would have gone and got another three-point midfielder.

“Imagine if the cards fell this way and you had a Dyson Heppell-Riley Baldi match up in a grand final?

“It would bring thousands of people through the gates.

“It’s robbing Gippsland, which is already a tough place to recruit players from Melbourne to improve the product.”

Dyson Heppell playing for Leongatha against Traralgon in the opening round of the Gippsland league. Picture: Daniel Heathcote

McMicking said Heppell was recruited on the basis he would be available for finals if he played the four Gippsland league games to qualify.

“It’s a shame the best players in the competition won’t be playing finals,” McMicking said.

“Clubs are trying to promote the league to become one of the best leagues in Victoria and this doesn’t allow us to do that.

“Riley Baldi, who is a one-pointer, deserves to be playing finals for Moe.

“Dyson Heppell is devastated, he was so keen to play with his brother for us.”

But Warragul could escape the impact of the mid-season rule change with three VFL-listed players set to be available for finals if the Gulls make the top-five.

Star midfielder Will Hayes will play his third match for Warragul on Saturday and has only played five for Carlton.

Sydney-listed Koby Grass has only played one VFL game and will play his third match for Warragul on Saturday.

Liam Serong has played six matches for Warragul and Coburg.

League by-laws state: “Any player drafted by an AFL club, placed on an AFL supplementary or rookie list or included on an official VFL list can, provided he has qualified under the rules, return to play Gippsland league finals in the senior grade only”.