Coutas off the hook

League clears team after extra man probe

QUEENSCLIFF president Andrew Conlan says common sense has prevailed after AFL Barwon decided not to wipe the Coutas’ score for starting 19 players on the field in the final quarter of Saturday’s win over Portarlington.

Umpires paid a free kick and a 50m penalty to the Demons, which resulted in a goal, after they quickly became aware 19 players had started the final term on the field for Queenscliff.

The incident was sent to the league for investigation, before AFL Barwon cleared Queenscliff of any ill intent.

The league had discretion to wipe Queenscliff’s score, but found that the 19th player had not affected play in the short time he was on the field.

Conlan said he never feared his side would lose the four points.

“Not after I’d been told what the rules were,” Conlan said.

“He was only out there for 30 seconds and within 20 seconds both coaches realised there were incorrect matchups, so something was wrong.

“I reckon by the 20-second stage, the player probably re- alised himself. He had started every other quarter on the bench and this one wouldn’t be any different, so he started to run off.”

Comparisons have been made with Winchelsea’s game against Thomson last year, when the Blues lost their quarter-time score for having 19 players on the field early in the second term.

But it is understood the GDFL decided to wipe Winchelsea’s score because it believed the Blues had played with 19 for the entire first quarter.

Conlan said the play was unaffected while his side had 19 players on the field and the result didn’t deserve to be changed.

“I think a mountain was made out of a bit of molehill, from my point of view,” he said.

“I felt there was no justification for any other decision than the one that was made, so we were quite happy.

“We’ve got to make sure the coaches take some learnings from it and we don’t let it happen again. It’s comical and it shouldn’t have happened, but mistakes happen.”

Portarlington hasn’t decided if it will pursue an appeal via AFL Victoria Country.