Roosters to appeal after being kicked out of BFNL reserves finals

NORTH Ballarat has sensationally been booted from the BFNL reserves finals series, after being found to have played ineligible players in last weekend’s elimination final against Sebastopol.

A complaint lodged with the BFNL following Sunday’s clash at Eastern Oval – won by the Roosters by 20 points – was upheld on Monday.

In a statement released to the media on Tuesday afternoon, the BFNL said North Ballarat had been determined to be in breach of BFNL Football Bylaws 46.1.7 and 6.2 and, subsequently, Section 1.1 of the AFL Vic Country Rules.

The match was awarded to Sebastopol.

With a spot in this Saturday’s second semi-final against Sunbury at stake, North Ballarat has confirmed it will appeal the decision, with paperwork to be lodged with AFL Goldfields on Tuesday night.

“As it stands right now, we don’t think we have done anything wrong and we will be appealing the decision,” Roosters CEO Patrick Thornton said.

“It would be disappointing for the boys to miss out.”

Following third-placed Bacchus Marsh’s elimination in the first week of finals by Darley, Sebastopol currently holds two chances of making the premiership decider under the BFNL’s final six system.

The BFNL’s full statement appears below.

“On Monday 1 September, the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) received a complaint regarding the eligibility of players in the North Ballarat Football Netball Club’s Reserves team during the Elimination Final on Sunday 31 August.

“As per Section 1 of the AFL Vic Country Rules, North Ballarat FNC has the right to appeal this decision to AFL Goldfields.”