Australian Football

Match Report

On July 4, 1979 Preston was found guilty of having fielded an unregistered player, Greg Marshall, in matches early in the season; Marshall's Form 3A had not been completed when he played in two senior matches and three seconds matches at the start of the season. The two senior matches in which Marshall had illegally played were an eight-point win against Caulfield and a draw against Port Melbourne; as a result of the revelations, the win and four points from each match were awarded to Preston's opponent.

The penalty saw Port Melbourne reach the finals at Preston's expense: had the original results stood, ceteris paribus, Preston and Port Melbourne would have finished fourth and fifth respectively with 38 points each, Preston having the higher percentage.

Preston was also fined $1150, comprising $500 for each senior match and $50 for seconds match in which Marshall played. It was the first case of points being stripped for playing an unregistered player since 1952.