Marlin Coast resigns
Coast has withdrawn mid-season from the Premier Women’s competition but FNQ Football general manager Matt Kelso believes it is not the result of having an extra team in 2017.
The Rangers had been scraping for players all season but the constant struggle has proven too much for the club.
Kelso said it was a disappointing outcome and although many have pointed the finger at the addition of JCU Strikers for a lack of quality in Premier Women’s competition, and might blame it for Marlin Coast’s demise, he felt that assumption was off the mark.
“I don’t think that has had an impact on the stability of any other team,” he said.
However, Kelso said it was obvious there were fewer female players on the pitch in 2017 as there was no second division, which could have been a symptom of JCU’s dominance in that competition in 2016.
“There’s obviously not as much depth, so that does bring with it a bit of a challenge,” he said. Kelso said natural “volatility” of participation in female sport could also be a factor, but expressed a desire to work with clubs and players to find the most suitable way to increase numbers in the future.
While ideally FNQ Football would like to give Marlin Coast players the opportunity to join another club for the rest of the season, they could be powerless to allow it as it is an FFA rule that states, players are not able to switch clubs after July 1.
FNQ Football is yet to determine whether Mareeba will receive the points for the Rangers’ forfeit on Sunday.
Their remaining games in the final round will instead be byes for the opposing teams. Southside 4 (D Soares 5’, Monin 11’, Paul 67’, Z Soares 89’) d Leichhardt 2 (Mulla 20’, D Di Lucchio 32’) Innisfail 8 (Taylor 11’ 15’ 80’, Lutsokert 53’ 86’, L Di Carlo 61’, Darveniza 43’, Clifford 89’) d Edge Hill 2 (Davitadze 7’, Moulsdale 51’) Marlin Coast 2 (Ruscade 70’, Tognin 89’) drew with Mareeba 2 (P Ruiz 51’, Haydon 87’) Southside 3 (Walton 1’ 8’ 75’) d Leichhardt 0 JCU Strikers 5 (Davies-Scherer 12’ 67’, Balanzategui 37’, Mccormick 58’, Benyon 88’) d Stratford 2 (Bull 17’, Waterson 65’) *Innisfail v Edge Hill posponed *Mareeba v Marlin Coast TBC
FNQ Football has also run into difficulty organising women’s matches for the annual FNQ Cup, which only had four nominations.
Defending champions Edge Hill were left out of the draw after what Kelso called a “miscommunication” and the league is currently looking for another club to join so they get a game. Cup games are being held in early August.