WANGARATTA Rovers president Mark Booth labelled the Ovens and Murray’s decision to change its draw to allow Yarrawonga recruit Brendan Fevola to play on Easter Sunday as disgusting.
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Amid growing discontent from clubs over the last-minute rescheduling, the Hawks and Albury reacted savagely saying the move was a blight on the competition’s integrity.
Yarrawonga was to open its season against Lavington at Mulwala on April 8 without the suspended Fevola but the Pigeons successfully put forward a submission to change the draw by playing their round 17 clash against Wangaratta on March 31.
While the Panthers will now have to contend with the dual Coleman medallist, there is more angst over the Pigeons being given a week off on the eve of the finals series.
Brendan Fevola at Mulwala last month. PICTURE: Kylie Goldsmith.
Albury weighed into the furore late yesterday with president Gavan Schultz furious with the lack of consultation.
Booth said Wangaratta Rovers bitterly opposed the decision and claimed the move could have serious ramifications with future fixturing.
“The integrity of the board and league is in question,” Booth said.
“They are supposed to be there to uphold the integrity of the rules.
“It’s the most disgusting decision that I’ve ever heard.
“I’m fuming.
“They are basically pandering to some clubs that are quite vocal.
“The draw had been set and now they are changing the draw to get around the VCFL ... and the rules.
“It’s a milestone decision.”
League general manager Tom O’Connor said he could understand the concerns of clubs, but believed the board’s decision was in the best interests of the O?and?M and country football.
“It’s been a football decision that has been made and not an individual club decision,” Tom O’Connor said.
“We are trying to get as many people through the gates and showcase footy in this area.
“If we are accused of bringing the game into disrepute by doing that then I will happily take on that challenge.”
Schultz said Albury was disappointed with the O and M’s handling of the issue and believed Wangaratta and Yarrawonga had been given unfair advantages.
“We believe the integrity of the league and game has been compromised here and the lack of consultation of this extremely important decision has been disappointing and bordering on contempt towards the clubs,” Schultz said.
“We have issued a letter to the O and M board of directors tonight seeking that the decision be rescinded.
“Albury has no issues with the two clubs.
“Our grievance is with the O and M administration and in particular the process they have undertaken in making this major change to the draw three weeks before the first game.”
Panthers’ president Peter Barwick was dumbfounded when told of the revised draw last week, while Corowa-Rutherglen president Ray McLarty said yesterday the Roos would seek clarification on the decision.
“We discussed it as a board on Saturday,” he said.
“I don’t want to say much at this stage, but there are certainly some questions that need answering.
“I know Tom and the board have the league’s best interests at heart and I’ll leave it at that.”
