Ian Wales says there will be an asterix mark on this year's Morris medal winner

The Saints' straight shooter said there could be an asterix mark on the winner of the medal with not all players afforded the same opportunity to poll maximum votes.

He cited the fact that the league's large contingent of Melbourne based players missed two matches during the season, robbing them of the opportunity to poll.

Wales also queried whether a medal should be awarded after only 13 rounds were played.

"Is the medal tainted when it wasn't a full season and not all players were given the same opportunity to play the same amount of matches?," Wales said.

"In my opinion, I think it is tainted.

"I know it wasn't the league's fault and it was because of reasons out of everybody's control.

"We all accept players miss matches because of injuries and suspensions but not because they reside in Melbourne.

"If a local player happens to win the medal by a slender margin over a Melbourne based player who missed two matches, it certainly will have tongues wagging."

Wales also said Myrtleford, Wangaratta and Wangaratta Rovers who have the most Melbourne based players were at a distinct disadvantage when playing without them.

"When we played Albury we were missing almost half our side and we got flogged because it was like our reserves side," he said.

"Nobody from Myrtleford was going to get votes that day were they?

"Myrtleford is still going to have a best and fairest count and presentation night which I also questioned.

"But the night will be more about welcoming next year because 2021 is a season we all want to put behind us as quickly as possible."

ALSO IN SPORT

League general manager Craig Millar rubbished Wales' claims and said this year's Morris medal winner would be no different to any previous recipients of the prestigious award.

"The league was disappointed that some players could not participate due to the lockdowns," Millar said.

"However this was beyond the league's control

"75 per cent of the season was completed which is enough to award the medal.

"It won't dilute the prestige in any way for the player who is declared the winner."

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