Port Douglas coach Brad Cooper believes the decision to forfeit the round that was lost to Cyclone Ita will be construed as amateurish by southern Aussie Rules leagues and players considering a stint in the Far North.
On Wednesday night the clubs voted 4-2 - Cairns City Lions had the bye and did not vote - in favour of taking two points each and not replaying it, a decision Cooper can't fathom.
He said it would send a bad message down south and even impact some clubs at the pointy end of the season.
"You've got to sell your competition down south, and when you're doing that (you aren't)," he said.
"And with the competition being so close this year I think it'll come into play with teams fighting for second and third or fourth and fifth."
Cooper's Crocs were due to play Manunda, while Centrals hosted Norths and Souths had Saints.
ALF Cairns operations manager Mel Dunstan said it was inevitable that not all clubs would be satisfied with the call, hence the option to vote.
But she disagreed with the theory that it would shine a bad light on the league.
"It's a natural disaster, circumstances beyond our control, and we've never been in that position in my eight years here," she said.
Cooper's focus will switch to their showdown with Saints in Port Douglas tomorrow afternoon, the Crocs determined not to drop another game at home.
"We've already dropped one at home and Saints are the best in the business so it'll be a good test to see where we are at."
He praised newcomer James Mueller for his impact since arriving in Port Douglas, while AFL Cairns journeyman, Chris Adams, is also enjoying his time under Cooper, getting his snare in the defeat of Centrals last weekend
Last Modified on 06/11/2014 15:04