WESTERN PORT
scoreboard Hillmen sink to a new low NEPEAN LEAGUE
By Toe Punt RED Hill has dropped to fourth place on the ladder after losing its third game in succession in embarrassing fashion on Saturday. For the second match in a row, Red Hill failed to score in the second and third quarters after leading at quarter time. That means that the Hillmen have failed to hit the scoreboard in four of its past six quarters. Red Hill kicked a goal after the quarter time siren through a ripper from Benny McGuiness on the boundary line to give the visitors a 4.3 (27) to 1.5 (11) lead. However, the Hillmen didn’t trouble the scorers again for the next 49 minutes, when they scored a rushed behind. It wasn’t until the 13 and a half minute mark of the last quarter that Red Hill kicked their fifth goal. They kicked two on the trot before Rosebud kicked the last two of the match to win 21.14 (140) to 6.5. (41). Embarrassing isn’t a term that footballers would like to be labelled after a game of footy. Witches hats would be even more offensive I suspect. However, that’s the only way to describe the Hillmen’s performance. They simply gave up half way through the second quarter. Red Hill gave it their all early in the third quarter too but when Rosebud hit the scoreboard again, down went their heads. It’s easy to point the finger at the coach after these horrible losses and question their ability to have strategies the stop the onslaught. However, as Red Hill coach Tony Blackford pointed out, he is almost powerless to respond to pressure. “I asked for effort. That’s all I wanted from the boys today across four quarters. At quarter time, I couldn’t have been happier with their output,”
Feeling the pinch: Tyabb had a tough day at the office going down to Hastings by a thumping 224 points. Picture: Andrew Hurst
said Blackford. “However, when the blow torch got turned on them in the second quarter, the effort disappeared. They had no fight in them. You’re right, they just gave up. “I might be wrong but I think that (effort and desire) comes from the individual, not something the coach can manufacture. “Rosebud were superb, take nothing away from them. Their hunger and appetite for every contest was first class. We just folded and let them take control,” a shattered Blackford said. While the big story was Red Hill’s pathetic performance, the positive spin was Rosebud’s absolute domination. The Buds booted 20.9 to 2.2 after quarter time. Tom Baker booted eight
goals in the final three quarters to again be the dominant player on the ground. Greg Bentley was magnificent leading out of the attacking 50 and Jason Bristow, Ryan Spooner and Rhys Bancroft smashed the Hillmen through the middle of the ground. The Rosebud small forwards in Cade Williams (four goals) and Glen Peterson (two goals) were also a nuisance while Keegan Downie was the best player on the ground in the first half and finished with three goals. Off half back, Nick Boswell had his own footy. The only negative for the Buds was the broken jaw suffered by Rob Forrest late in the second quarter. He was dominating to that point. A very happy Rosebud coach Nick Jewell said after the game that the
key for his side was pressure. “When we played Red Hill the first time they had 108 marks. Today they had 44,” said Jewell. “The key for us was to put pressure on their ball carriers and make it hard for them to kick cleanly. “We had 60 tackles to their 40-odd, despite winning comfortably, so it showed we still worked hard even when we were in control. “Adversely, Red Hill had 20 tackles in the first quarter, which is their quota, before having 11, 9 and 9 in the next three quarters. “That says it all,” Blackford said. “We chased tail all afternoon but still couldn’t work hard enough to lay tackles. It was very disappointing.” Despite saying before the game that scrapping is his team’s strategy, the Buds clearly showed they have a sen-
sational ability to attack. If I was coaching Rosebud and the armoury that they possess, I’d be encouraging them to move the ball quickly like they did against Red Hill. It was the best brand of footy yours truly has seen this season. Crib Point’s season is officially over after it went down to Devon Meadows 11.14 (80) to 11.10 (76). The Panthers kicked away in the second quarter and held off a fast finishing Magpies in the last. Meadows’ coach Glenn Michie led from the front with five goals in a best on ground performance. Rye maintained its position on top of the ladder with a hard fought 16.18 (114) to 13.8 (86) victory against Dromana. Dromana led 32 to 16 at quarter time but Rye hit back in the second and were never headed. Ryan Mullet and Brodie Egan dominated for the Demons while Sammy Guerts and Shaun Clarke were superb for the Tigers. Sorrento got back on the winners’ list with a 14.15 (99) to 6.7 (43) victory against Pearcedale. Leigh Poholke booted six to be one of the team’s best while Leigh Treeby dominated. In further good news for the Sharks, Myles Pitt will be back in two weeks, cutting back his overseas trip by six weeks. Somerville put a couple of horrid weeks off the field behind them with a strong four quarter effort against Frankston Bombers. The Eagles set up the win with a seven goal to two second quarter. Scott Simpson booted four goals for the winners while Beau Muston kicked five for the Bombers. In the final game Luke Clark booted nine goals and Dale Alanis six as Hastings kicking a whopping 38.23.251 to Tyabb’s 4.3.27. Hastings had 16 different goal kickers.
MPNFL apologises to clubs – clubs bite back By Toe Punt THREE weeks after going into hiding over the bungled Play Points System (PPS), the Mornington Peninsula Football League has finally apologised. In a statement sent by league CEO Jeff Jones on Saturday afternoon, the league “acknowledge that the ruling made in relation to David Hirst was incorrect and apologise for the mistake that has been made at the MPNFL Administration level with the Player Points System. We further extended our apologies to the player, the clubs and their committees”. The statement also tried to clarify the ruling that was handed down by the Independent Tribunal. The statement read: Section 6 (a) Not Applicable Mr Hirst has not remained at his present MPNFL clubs for 2 years. If Mr Hirst plays for Somerville next year, there will be a deduction of 1 point. Specifically, we reject Somerville’s contention that 2 years is satisfied by Mr Hirst playing for Somerville in the 2011 and 2014 seasons. If this
interpretation were to be adopted the remained with his present MPNFL club would be redundant. Section 6(b) Not Applicable as Mr Hirst was first registered for Karingal Section 6 (c) Not Applicable Section 6 (d) Not Applicable (assuming that Mr Hirst was not notified as Somerville Exemption Player for the 2015) Section 6 (e) Not Applicable Section 8 Not Applicable You then can replace the players name and club when accessing this section against other players. However, despite the apology and explanation, clubs maintain that the ruling was still blatantly wrong. Rosebud Football Club secretary Anthony Matthews said while he welcomed the statement from the league he and other clubs (Dromana and Red Hill specifically) were still firmly of the view that the MPNFL and the Qualifying Committee have completely misinterpreted the MPNFL Player Points System 2010 (PPS). “In particular we disagree with the determination that Section 6b of the
PPS does not apply to the example player in question and as a result believe that the example player in question is a 3 point player,” Matthews wrote. The logic for this is outlined below: For ease of reference Section 6b of the PPS states: A player shall revert to a base player points rating if he returns to the club at which he was first registered as an MPNFL player. The player will return to the appropriate higher premium points level should he transfer to another MPNFL club within a 3 year period. Taking this into account, the following logic clearly demonstrates that Section 6b is relevant to the example player and therefore results in this player being designated as a 3 point player: In 2009 he was first registered with Karingal – at that time he was a 1 point player. In 2011 he was cleared to Somerville – pursuant to Section 5 he became a 3 point player (ie. 1 base point + 2 points for playing 6 senior games at another MPNFL club).
In 2012 he was cleared to Karingal – pursuant to the first limb of Section 6b he reverted to “… base player points rating if he returns to the club at which he was first registered as an MPNFL player.” and therefore became a 1 point player (ie. he returned to the Karingal which was the MPNFL club at which he was registered). In 2014 he was cleared to Somerville – pursuant to the second limb of Section 6b he returned “… to the appropriate higher premium points level” because at this time he transferred to another MPNFL club within a 3 year period. Accordingly at this time he became a 3 point player. As of today he has not completed 2 seasons with Somerville and therefore a 1 point deduction under Section 6ai is not applicable (as agreed by the MPNFL & Qualifying Committee). As of today he remains a 3 point player. “I have discussed this logic with Graham Stelling (Dromana) and Chris Rye (Red Hill) and we are all of the same opinion that the example
player in question is a 3 point player,” Matthews said. “In addition to failing to correctly apply Section 6b of the PPS – and therefore incorrectly determining the points which apply to the player in question – it follows from this that the determination by the MPNFL and Qualifying Committee: Is completely inconsistent with the approach that we understand Clubs and the MPNFL have applied to date in relation to Section 6 of the Guidelines – from the time of its inception until the recent airing of the issues surrounding the player in question. Seriously compromises the integrity of the MPNFL competition. This arises for because Clubs could, by mutual agreement, clear any player that is currently a 2 or 3 point player (by virtue of having attracted premium points from having previously played at another MPNFL Club) to another MPNFL Club, have that clearance approved and then prior to the next game have Continued Next Page
Western Port News 16 June 2015
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