A DEJECTED Manunda president fears legal action is the only move left for his club if they want to compete in next season’s AFL Cairns seniors and reserves competition.
Banned by the League in a landmark decision last Friday for not playing games in Port Douglas on August 2, president Richard Martin met for a last-ditch briefing with other club presidents and the AFL Cairns board yesterday morning.
Nothing had changed after the 90-minute discussion, with AFL Cairns president Gary Young asserting the decision would stand and that he was satisfied with the process that has taken place.
While admitting club presidents should have been notified of the decision before it was made public, the president was satisfied all parties had the information they needed to move on with a six-team competition next season.
“I put my hand up and said that could have been handled better (informing the presidents of the decision),” Mr Young said. “People probably felt that Manunda were guilty, but without knowing the ins and outs felt it was a stern punishment.
“Now, having got the absolute rundown from the beginning, they can go back to their clubs with authority.”
He defended the investigative process used to reach the decision, which avoids the involvement of club presidents.
“The days of (club) delegates are gone; you have to have objective people making the calls so the issues aren’t clouded,” he said.
And he refuted any suggestions that the booting of Manunda was a scurrilous method to vacate them from Cazalys.
“That was not even a consideration. It was based on the predicament that happened from not playing a game,” Mr Young said.
The Manunda president said whether or not that was the case would be deduced in coming years.
“Is there an ulterior motive? I don’t know, I guess we’ll see in the next 12 months,” Mr Martin said.
“But the club’s out on a limb now and I’m not sure what happens next.”
Mr Martin said legal action was something he personally wanted to avoid to save the 30-year-old club.
“If the other presidents are happy with a six-team comp, good luck to them but that was their opportunity to take a stand,” he said.
“Our next option would be to go to court.
“But if we win that it’s not a victory because the money spent in court could have been spent on the game’s development.
“But we’ve had massive support and if that’s the direction they want to go (then we will).”
About 200 people fronted at the Hawks’ question and answer session on Thursday night, while more than 250 have signed a petition that asks for the club’s two sides to be reinstated.
“The public support has been astronomical and our committee is prepared to fight, but for how long can you keep the fire going?” Mr Martin sad.
“We could lose 40 kids to the game because of this.
“And that, along with the slap in the face to our volunteers, is more concerning than the decision itself.”
Article courtesy of The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 17/09/2014 21:32