KOLORA-NOORAT coach Ben Walsh believes AFL Western District is looking at its points system from the wrong point of view.
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The first-year mentor said the system should celebrate success and encourage an even playing field with a base number of points.
Five-time Hampden league reigning premier Koroit and 2018 Warrnambool and District league champions Nirranda were both docked points for achieving football's ultimate success in 2018.
The Saints sit three points dearer than the rest of the competition on 37-player points, while Nirranda was handed a one-point deduction to sit on 43 points heading into the new year.
Old Collegians and Kolora-Noorat are the only WDFNL teams below the Blues with 42.
But Walsh, who said the Power were content with their points, believes the pathway AFLWD is currently taking is flawed.
"The things you don't want to see creeping in is clubs getting penalised for their success and it looks like at this stage that is starting to happen," he said.
"I'm all for giving clubs a hand at the other end if they are struggling to attract players. But the idea of penalising clubs who are doing the right thing and being successful, I don't think it's the best way to go ahead."
Walsh said the region's football governing body should celebrate and encourage the teams which achieve success.
He said a possible solution to the problem would be to set a limit on points that all clubs strive to reach.
"They should have a base where the majority are set and if they need to add a couple I think there is absolutely no problem," he said.
"It would be nice to have a majority on a level playing field and give the others a hand if they need it rather than trying to deduct ones from the top teams."
Koroit president Stephen Hoy and Nirranda coach Shane Threlfall both echoed Walsh's thoughts on successful clubs not being punished.
They were still seeking clarification as to why they had lost points.
"I don't quite work out how they allocate them to be honest," Threlfall said.
"My understanding historically is they wanted everyone on the same level so there was going to be a base level and sides could apply for extra points if they are disadvantaged for some particular reason.
"But at the moment they seem to be giving sides some and taking them off others and I'm not quite sure where their rational is."
Currently in section eight of the AFL Victoria total team points policy the limit is 48 but there is no mention of a minimum number a club can be given.
Threlfall and Walsh said both their clubs would be comfortably below their player point allocations for the new Warrnambool and District league season.
Player point allocations
- Allansford - 44
- Dennington - 44
- East Warrnambool - 47
- Kolora-Noorat - 42
- Merrivale - 44
- Nirranda - 43
- Old Collegians - 42
- Panmure - 46
- Russells Creek - 47
- South Rovers - 44
- Timboon Demons - 44
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
