Australian Football

Match Report

Two of Oakleigh's new recruits (Eric Guy and Bill Botten), both from the Carrum Football Club, were played before their clearances from the Mornington Peninsula Football League were formally lodged with the Association; as a result, on May 5th the Association awarded the match and the four premiership points to Brunswick, and Oakleigh was fined £10. 

Oakleigh argued that the paperwork error was made by the Permit Committee, not the club; but the Association found that the onus was on Oakleigh to ensure the paperwork was lodged correctly. 

In August, the club took the Association to the Supreme Court of Victoria, seeking to overturn the penalties and injunct the Association from staging the finals if the penalty affected Oakleigh's finishing position, but dropped the case prior to the final round of home and away matches after the injunction was refused and an unfavourable reserved judgement was delivered.

Ultimately, the club's third placing on the ladder was unaffected by the penalty, and it went on to win the premiership. The legal action cost the club an estimated £453.