Echuca appeals GVL decision to strip club of round one premiership points

Echuca self-reported the issue to the GVL on Monday, April 11, with the league awarding the points in both grades to the Tigers.

Echuca was also hit with a suspended $1000 fine, $500 for each offence.

The appeal was lodged by the club on Wednesday, April 20, but a result is not expected for several weeks.

The Murray Bombers cited administrative difficulties in the newly introduced PlayHQ system as a reason for the mishap.

EFNC president Ash Byrne said the current penalties were too harsh and the club hoped to have its wins reinstated.

“We’re appealing on the severity of the penalty,” Byrne said.

“We want the points back. Hopefully they look at (the appeal) favourably.

“If it came down to it we would accept some sort of fine.

“We didn’t hear a thing until Thursday night (April 14) when an email was sent out to all the clubs in the league regarding the decision against us.”

Byrne did not mince his words regarding PlayHQ, with the system’s implementation at local sporting level running into difficulties.

“It’s an honest mistake,” Byrne said.

“It’s only been made because it’s a bad system that’s been implemented.

“The fact that the system allows you to register players without being cleared, there’s a flaw in that system.”

Byrne said the result of the appeal would have ramifications on the volunteers at local level, which he said were under heightened pressure in 2022 grappling with new administrative processes.

“If (the league) maintain their stance and take the points off us, I think there would be a lot of volunteer administrators across the nation who would question whether or not they would continue to be involved at any club when those kinds of repercussions surround an honest mistake,” Byrne said.

“They’re battling.”

Echuca defeated Rochester in the senior grade by 52 points, while the reserves also had a strong win.