North Adelaide has been fined $10,000 and given a four-point premiership point penalty for next year, but will still be able to play in the grand final at Adelaide Oval next week, the tribunal has ruled.
The decision comes after the North Adelaide had 19 players on the field in the opening stages of the fourth quarter, during the preliminary final against the Woodville-West Torrens Eagles, on Sunday.
Prior to the tribunal hearing the SANFL released a statement confirming that North Adelaide had 19 players on the field. In which time, North booted eight points and ultimately beat the Eagles by five points at the final siren.
The matter was referred to the SA Football Commission, on Monday, who then referred the decision to the tribunal.
During the hearing, SANFL tribunal Michael David QC highlighted that his options for penalty did not include reversal of the result.
“I make it clear at the outset I do not have the power to order a re-match or annul a score,” he said.
“To me, a re-match would seem to be the most superficially appropriate penalty but I have no power to do so and would of course cause potential prejudice to the Norwood Football Club, who are waiting to play the grand final.”
Mr David announced his decision after a five-hour long hearing, in which both clubs put forward their submissions.
“I have looked at the video of those minutes and it is almost impossible having looked at it on a number of occasions, to say whether that extra man affected the scoring and therefore the result,” Mr David said.
SANFL rules only allow a captain or acting captain to ask an umpire for a head count of on-field players.
It was understood that Eagle’s officials alerted umpires of the breach but North brought their nineteenth player off, before the Eagle’s captain could ask the umpire for a head count.
A similar incident also occurred in the NEAFL grand final, over the weekend, against the Southport Sharks and the Sydney Swans.
At the time the Southport lead the Swans by 60 points, 12.4 (76) to 2.4 (16).
The umpires called the teams together for a head count and found the South Port Sharks had an extra-player on the field.
After a league consultation it was announced that the scores would remain unchanged and no penalty would be handed down.
The NEAFL released a statement on Sunday night clarifying the decision.
“During the 20 seconds in the final quarter when Southport had an extra player on the field, neither team scored any points.”
“The decision was made in accordance with NEAFL rule 5.16.a.e: Where a player does not enter the playing field in accordance with these Rules, the Match Manager and/or field umpire(s) must report the circumstances to the AFL. Time and scores at the time of the breach are to be recorded. The AFL may determine the matter by way of fine, reversal of Match result or other sanction as it deems appropriate.”
“In line with this rule, the NEAFL determined that the breach had no material impact on the outcome of the game and the score should stand.”
If the same incident were to occur in the AFL, a free kick and 50m penalty would be awarded to the captain of the opposing team. The team with extra-players on field would then also lose all points scored up until the head count.
If a team asks for a head count and the correct amount of players are on field, a free kick would be awarded against the team who initially asked for the count.
