A SANFL club which fielded an extra man in a preliminary final win will play in the grand final despite being handed the maximum penalty possible for the rule breach.
The SANFL tribunal has found the most appropriate outcome would be to replay the game, but it doesn’t have the power to make such a ruling.
North Adelaide had an extra player on the field for almost four minutes in the final quarter in Sunday’s preliminary final against the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles.
North won by five points but admitted the extra-man mistake.
The Eagles protested to the SANFL, which referred the controversy to the league’s independent one-man tribunal, retired Supreme Court judge Michael David QC.
After a five-hour hearing on Monday night, David said the most suitable outcome would be a re-match, but he didn’t have the power to make that ruling.
“To me, a re-match would seem to be the most appropriate penalty but I have no power to do so,” he said.
“I’m of the view that as this was not deliberate a reversal of the result is too savage a penalty.
“The matter should be dealt with by matter of fine and loss of premiership points for next year.
“Sadly, this is of little consolation to the Woodville-West Torrens Football Club.”
David fined North $10,000, the maximum amount under league rules, and also docked the club four premiership points – the equivalent of two wins – next season.
North will play Norwood in Sunday’s grand final.
Last Sunday, North kicked 1.2 – eight points in total – while they had the extra player on the field for three minutes and 39 seconds in the last quarter.
Eagles officials complained to a reserve umpire and interchange stewards about North’s extra player.
But under SANFL rules, only a captain or acting captain can ask an on-field umpire for a head count of players to officially determine an extra-man breach.
It’s understood North called the extra player off the field before the Eagles’ captain could ask a field umpire for a head count.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I'm intrigued as to how the 19th player got on? Someone has to come off. No one noticed North had only 3 on the bench? This also happened in the NEAFL GF.
Wayne
Roar Guru
Norwood originally we're going to vote NO for Adelaide Crows feeder joining the SANFL. The SANFL offered to remove some of the sanctions in return for a YES vote (which was the deciding vote). Nothing official of course, but Norwood we're very vocal in saying NO (with Dogs and Souths), but mysteriously changed their vote and announced they we're no longer restricted in Drafting
Fat Toad
Roar Rookie
The issue of the captain having to ask the umpire for a count is not (should not) be an issue once the umpires have decided to do a count. If it has to come from the captain, it removes a power that an official ought to have. Clearly on or off ground officials can decide that a count is appropriate, otherwise part of the role of the interchange officials is limited! The only reason the captain becomes important is for there being a limitation on any player being able to stop the game. Imagine if you were having a match turning against you, what a great way to stop a run, just ask for a head count and use it to regroup. As an aside, when I was a kid I remember a report in on of the Melbourne papers where a captain asked for a count because they were getting thrashed and it turned out that the loosing team had an extra player.
Tony
Guest
Not that clever - if the captain calling a head count get's it wrong it's a free kick from centre+ 50m penalty i.e. nearly certain goal.
RT
Roar Rookie
That's not exactly how it went down. It is true the siren was not loud enough. The error was the timekeepers stopped sounding the siren before the umpires put their arms in the air then play continued for a while before they realized their mistake and blew it again.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
What’s more staggering is it took North 4 minutes to work it out
Nudge
Roar Rookie
The eagles out scored North by nearly the same amount in nearly the same time frame Geoff. Only it was in the first half. Pitiful decision by the retired judge, made with the knowledge that North v Norwood would see 35 thousand rock up compared to Eagles Norwood 25. And of course the ratings for channel 7 will be a lot bigger with North now in. For 116 mins of the game when it was 18v 18 Eagles won 14-11-95 to North 14-8-92. When it was 19 v 18 the scores were 0-0-0 to 1-2-8. The final result should have been when it was 18-18
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I agree that the rule is very much a 19th century type invention. Now that we've seen this play out, the sensible thing is to do what you suggest, especially in the higher tiers of football. You can't abide situations where clubs "accidentally" leave an extra bloke on the field.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I think back to when the AFL changed a scoreline post-game due to the loudness of the siren being deficient. I'm not sure a specific rule existed for them to be able to do that, but they did it.
The Finger
Guest
The elephant in the room is the current onus of responsibility on the captain of the opposing side to report the extra player to the umps. The rule was probably introduced before tv was invented. This nonsense needs to be replaced by any concrete evidence available to prove the case. Then, after the game, deduct all points scored by the offending team for the quarter of footy that the offence took place - or if the extra player was on the ground for over 5 minutes, to forfeit the game. Too late now for the Eagles, but at least a repetition of this nonsense can be avoided.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Nothing else the SANFL could do given the current rules. And what do you expect North to do - not turn up or rollover and die? Time to get over it. I hope they belt Norwood by 10 goals.
RT
Roar Rookie
I'm intrigued and Google isn't helping. What did Norwood do to get punishments removed?
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Nice thought. In the end this was a tough decision, I'm guessing most footy fans would have an issue with the decision, we can only hope that North don't win the granny.
PeteB
Guest
I remember teams in country footy having their entire score wiped for having an extra man on the field for only a few seconds. It may have been a bit over the top but far preferable than allowing a team to win a game by 5 points while having an extra player for 4minutes. Incredibly weak decision.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
I'd like to see this start a tradition. From now on every time Eagles play North at the time the breach occurred, the Eagles captain asks the umpires for a head count.
MarkD
Guest
I wouldn't call a fine and 4 pts an appropriate punishment given that a grand final spot was up for grabs. What is the prize money for the grand final winner and runner-up? My guess is it's quite alot more than $10000.
anon
Roar Pro
The captain has to ask the umpire for a count. He didn't. Reversing results because of something that happened in the middle of a game would have been a horrible precedent. If it was the last play of the game as with Sirengate, it's different.
Wayne
Roar Guru
North's Premiership will be tainted? Nah. How many times have Norwood breached the Salary Cap in same season as winning the Premiership? I hope North win, because I am still filthy on Norwood trading the removal of salary cap breach punishments for their Yes Vote.
Nick
Roar Guru
What's staggering is that it took 5 minutes for the Eagles to clue into the fact North had 19 men on the park. SANFL made the right decision. Everyone looks foolish, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the Eagles cappy to make the headcount request. He didn't. Bad luck.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Tough decision for the SANFL to make. Given the existing set of rules that requires the captain of the opposition side to call for a count on the field at the time that the rule is broken they had their hands tied in terms of imposing a punishment. It was unprecedented. People can make up suggestions like have a full replay, or replay the final quarter, or take off the score made while 19 players were on the field but none of these rules currently exist under current arrangements. I can imagine that the rule book will be completely re-written on this one which will be a good thing. I've been a North Adelaide supporter since the mid 1960s so my bias will show but I can imagine that the SANFL considered it too harsh to award the game to the Eagles and I'm not sure that they deserved to be in the Grand Final after blowing a 47 point lead half way through the third quarter. And I think its pretty poor form by some SA commentators suggesting that if North win the Grand Final the result will be tainted. I don't think for as minute that they intended having 19 men on the field so I think its time that everyone moved on to the Grand Final which should be a beauty if the North players and coaching staff can focus on the result. Go the Roosters!