THE Millicent Football Netball Club has been fined $1500 for playing an ineligible player in its winning first semi final Reserves team at Blue Lake Sports Park in Mount Gambier on Saturday.
The Saints accounted for the North Gambier Tigers by 19 points and have advanced to the preliminary final on September 7.
The Millicent footballer had exceeded the eight A Grade games threshold and this meant he could not drop back to a lower grade.
An investigation into the issue was conducted on behalf of the SANFL by Limestone Coast Football Netball League chairman Kurt Slaven.
He found an error had been made by Millicent and imposed the fine and a form of good behaviour bond.
The financial penalty has been suspended for two years provided the Saints do not offend again in this timeframe.
“Millicent has accepted the penalty in writing,” Mr Slaven told The SE Voice.
MFNC president Joel Redman explained how his club had made the error.
“Back in July 2022, Millicent introduced a motion to lift the A Grade games threshold from eight to 10,” Mr Redman said.
“The motion went to a meeting of the Western Border Football League club delegates and was passed.
“The 10-game threshold then thereafter applied in the Western Border.
“When the Western Border transitioned to the new Limestone Coast league at the end of 2023, Millicent assumed the 10-game threshold would apply.
“However, this did not occur.”
