Senior Mens Result - Woodend Hesket vs Melton Centrals

Following the Round 1 Senior Men’s match on April 5th between Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club (WHFNC) and Melton Centrals Football Netball Club (MCFNC), the Riddell District Football Netball League (RDFNL) was made aware of an issue pertaining to By-Law 111 in the RDFNL Operations Manual. Upon investigation of the match via communication with the WHFNC, the MCFNC and the match officials, the following findings have occurred;

 

  • As per By Law 111
    • 5.5.1 – Request by captain
      • The MCFNC called a head count late in the third quarter. The head count found that WHFNC had too many players on the ground
    • 5.5.3
      • (c) the Team shall lose all points which it has scored in that quarter up to the time of the count

 

The RDFNL has followed the By-Laws and subsequently removed Woodend-Hesket’s third quarter score (1.3.9) of the team total.

 

In addition, further correspondence and action has occurred;

 

  • As per By-Law 111
    • 5.5.5 – Post-Match Review
      • (a) A club or other person may request post-Match review by the relevant Controlling Body of a Team exceeding the permitted number of Players on the Playing Surface where a request under section 5.5.1 did not occur during a Match.
      • (b) Notification of the request and lodgement of relevant evidence must occur within 24 hours of the completion of the relevant Match in a form prescribed by the Controlling Body.
      • (c) The Controlling Body may further determine the matter by way of a fine, reversal of Match result or other sanction it deems appropriate.

 

Following this, the RDFNL has deemed that Woodend-Hesket FNC played a minimum of 5 minutes 40 in the 4th quarter with too many players on the field and the Controlling Body has therefore determined that that Woodend-Hesket’s total points for the 4th quarter (3.5.23) also be removed from the match total.

 

The RDFNL acknowledges that this was not a deliberate act by the WHFNC and want to point out that the Woodend-Hesket Football Netball Club are an excellent Club which was highlighted by their back to back top three finishes in the RDFNL Club of the Year across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Having said that, the integrity of the competitions cannot be brought into question and on this occasion there is a clear breach and a subsequent penalty whereby the final result of the match which was originally Woodend-Hesket 9.12.66 defeated Melton Centrals 7.8.50 is now Woodend-Hesket 5.4.34 defeated by Melton Centrals 7.8.50. Match results and ladder changes will occur shortly.