AFL Western District region general manager Lachy Patterson said a decision will be made on the Sharks’ cap when pre-season training resumes next year.

“It’s a very unique situation at Deakin, given the fact that some of their players come from university,” he said.

“I think that it’s only fair we give Deakin some allowance, given their lack of (on-field) success, but it’s too early for them to say how many points they think they’ll need.”

Fellow Warrnambool and District clubs East Warrnambool, Nirranda and Russells Creek each received an additional five points, while Panmure was granted one extra point.

Across the four senior leagues under the Western District umbrella, 14 out of 41 clubs applied for additional points.

All were successful.

In the Mininera and District league, Caramut, SMW Rovers, Woorndoo-Mortlake and Great Western were all granted an additional three points because of their small population bases, with lack of junior structure and geographical restraints also cited as reasons for the allowances.

In the South West District league, three clubs initially applied for concessions, but when the competition-wide cap was raised from 40 points to 45, only Branxholme-Wallacedale maintained its application, securing an additional five points.

Patterson said the number of clubs applying for allowances was “probably around the number we expected”, based on other leagues around the state.

“It tends to be about a quarter or just less than a quarter (applying for extra points),” he said.

Patterson said patience and understanding was needed as all parties adjusted to the new points cap, which will be followed by the addition of a salary cap from 2017.

“It will take time to understand exactly how this system works for clubs,” he said.

“It’s not going to have a massive effect in the first 12 months, but we need to start somewhere.”