VAFA powerhouse Old Xaverians disqualified from under 19s grand final after fielding ineligible player

A local footy team has been left heartbroken after being forced to forfeit their place in the grand final.

Victorian Amateur Football Association powerhouse Old Xaverians beat APS rivals St Kevin’s in the under 19 premier men’s preliminary final by five points on Saturday.

Xavs came from two points behind at three quarter-time to book their spot in this week’s grand final against Old Brighton — or so they thought — only to be disqualified on Sunday when the league found they fielded an ineligible player.

In a statement, the VAFA explained the decision: “The VAFA has investigated and confirmed that Old Xaverians U19 men’s team fielded an ineligible player in the Holmesglen U19 premier men’s preliminary final match against St Kevin’s U19 men’s yesterday (Saturday 12 September).

“In accordance with VAFA rule 50, “A club which includes a player who is not eligible in a team by which it is represented in a premiership match shall be fined as prescribed in schedule of fines contained in rule 129 ($100) and shall forfeit all matches in which such player played.... Each such match shall be awarded to the opposing club....”

“Accordingly, St Kevin’s U19 men’s will proceed through to the Holmesglen U19s premier men’s grand final match against Old Brighton U19 men’s on Saturday 19th September at Revo Fitness Park.”

Old Brighton and Old Xaverians were the two standout teams of the season, having finished first and second respectively.

But Xavs beat the minor premiers as recently as four weeks ago, and would have fancied their chances to upset the premiership favourites again in next week’s decider.

It’s been a year littered with controversy for the VAFA, which has been criticised by multiple clubs for its administration of its women’s competitions in particular.

Fitzroy Football Club hit out at the league earlier this month when they had their finals hopes dashed after being told an earlier season game between two other clubs had been abandoned due to an ineligible player, which changed the make-up of the ladder.

Fitzroy won their final home-and-away season game believing it was enough to qualify for the VAFA women’s premier finals.

That was until a match between St Kevin’s and Kew was retrospectively scrapped, throwing the match ratios out and relegating Fitzroy to fifth, outside of a finals position.

In a statement, the club said it was “bitterly disappointed” with the league’s handling of the situation, “including how it was communicated”.

“We were also left with a situation where our women have continued to train this week in the hope that the matter would be investigated and resolved satisfactorily,” the statement read.