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GRAND finalist Port Fairy and wooden-spooner Hamilton Kangaroos will have more player ranking points this season despite all clubs being told in December they would be on an equal footing.
Port Fairy has 42 points – two more than the original 40 allocated to all clubs – while Hamilton Kangaroos has 43. The points system is part of an equalisation policy.
AFL Western District’s decision, which has not been released publicly, has disappointed rivals, including coaches, Koroit’s Chris McLaren, South Warrnambool’s Mat Buck, Terang Mortlake’s Michael Sargeant and North Warrnambool Eagles’ Graeme Twaddle.
“It’s a bit disheartening to think we’re all on a level playing field and now we’re not,” Buck said.
“It’s a bit of a double whack for us because we’ve lost Mar Gattek to Port Fairy.”
Twaddle was concerned about a “lack of transparency” because the decision had leaked to other clubs.
“To be told some time ago that we were working towards the same points, and to find out that’s not the case and that some clubs have been allocated extras, it feels like there has been a lack of transparency,” he said.
“It probably comprises the integrity of the commission.
“I certainly don’t blame clubs for applying – but I query the commission for granting the points after being fairly adamant that everyone was coming back to an even playing field.”
Sargeant was worried “the goalposts had moved”.
“When we originally received the email, it said there was a level playing field and there were no complaints at all with that,” he said.
McLaren said he could understand the Kangaroos’ extra points but not Port Fairy’s.
“I don’t have an issue with Hamilton getting more points, because they finished down the bottom last season,” he said.
“But (Port Fairy) finished fifth, third and second in the last three years and have been a strong side. It doesn’t seem they need more help,” he said.
Port Fairy president Ashley King said several factors justified the request for more points.
“Some of that is geographic – we’re in close proximity with major clubs,” King said.
“Being a smaller community has its disadvantages with keeping juniors as one-club players.
“There are less employment opportunities in a town the size of ours so it’s a bit more of a challenge to keep juniors at the club.”
Kangaroos vice-chairman Kevin Manson said a lack of success was behind his club’s appeal for more points.
“We only got three out of the five we applied for,” Manson said.
“When we applied, we included geographical reasons, lack of success – all the things that allow you to apply for an exemption.”
