Appeals overhaul plea

GCA boss wants independent body

GEELONG Cricket Association president Rob Vines believes the competition’s appeals panel needs to be overhauled in light of the Bell Park salary cap scandal.

The appeals arm is made up of GCA committee members, which Vines described as a “flaw”. He said it was important for the association to have access to an independent panel to remove any potential bias from hearings.

“I’ve been saying for quite a while the GCA processes don’t have sufficient independence when it comes to its appeals processes,” Vines said.

“I’ve been saying that for about a year and it’s something we are aware of and we know needs to be addressed.”

Bell Park last week won its appeal against a two-year demotion to GCA3 and will serve only one season in the competition’s lowest division.

Vines said he had “complete confidence” in the investigation and appeals committees, but independence was important to eliminate any question of bias.

The six members across the investigation and appeals panels were independent of Bell Park, he said.

“As a point of principle, it’s not ideal to have an appeals committee made up of members of the governing board,” he said.

“It would be better, as a matter of principle, if they were independent of the board.

“That’s normally the way these things are operated but it hasn’t been the way that it’s been done in cricket circles, certainly not in this region and possibly not in other cricket associations across Victoria.

“That’s got a bit to do with the reality around availability of people. This has been the issue.

“There is a volunteer constraint in community sport and it is difficult to find enough people with the necessary skills and time to be able to do all this sort of stuff.”

Vines said it was hoped the appeals committee could be replaced by a regional panel, which would be responsible for hearing cases such as Bell Park’s plea.

“Under our current GCA rules … appeals of this nature have to be heard by members of the board. That’s not ideal,” he said.

“I think there is broad acknowledgment that would be a sensible way to go if we can come up with a regional model.

“The other associations have similar issues when it comes to hearing appeals of this nature.”