TOPIC:

It certainly fits the definition of 'systemic cheating' in my opinion. Is this practice isolated to just one team or the entire Club?

Whats the phrase... "brought the Game into disrepute"

Ammos need to have a real hard look at this one. far reaching destruction to a lot of clubs and their planning.

My understanding of it:

- Kingsway won by 1pt by the last kick of the day over Quinns for a supposed spot in finals. - now Kingsway have been told no finals, very harsh on the players

- Whitford now have all 3 sides at home for a final, due to Wembley cheating - Whitford would have missed out on a potential financial windfall.

- Teams that thought they had second chance etc have now had that taken away, not to mention the right to host home finals.

Wembley don't suffer in all of this, the only potential sanction is if the league are bundled out, player in question cant play ressies as his game tally for reserves is 3.

Kick them out of finals and make a stand for the deliberate manipulation of the comp.

Well said UTB

The "new" ammos hireachy has a real chance to make a statement that this type of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated especially as it was not a "once off"

Kelmscott had the book thrown at them for potentially what could have happened this season regarding behaviour and what Wembley have done in my opinion is a lot more serious. If i was involved with any of the clubs involved, i would be protesting what has happened and take the ammos board to task

The only way that Wembley can be punished is that all grades are removed from the finals for 2016 - make a stand because it does beg the question "what else have they done this year" in other grades as well

Agree that the WAAFL need to take a stand on this with Wembley.

Makes you question if they are doing this at Reserves level, have they also been doing this through their 3s & 4s too?

Heard a rumour that an A Grade side has also been caught playing 6+ players under false names in their colts including a 22 year old. Now that's systemic cheating to the next level.

Are there any consequences for coaches and club administrators who knowingly play unregistered and/or ineligible players in team?

You'd be fairly angry wouldn't you?!
Still one wonders how it was come to be known said player was out of the state, didn't think people followed B Reserves football that closely!

Too be fair, they broke the rules and the punishment handed was the correct one. Whether you agree or disagree, that is what has happened...fair to say Wembley has opened themselves up for some deserved criticism here.
Bring back the player ID cards.

Pretty sure Wembley enjoy the "purple circle". Have got away with a lot of things over the years.

Not sure about penalising the league side, but definitely think the B ressies should be kicked out pending a response from Wembley put forward to the Ammos.

systematic manipulation of the competition - begs the question.. what else have they been upto. Where there is smoke there is a raging fire.

This may open a can of worms!!

Isn't paying players 'bringing the game into disrepute' too!! It's just as much against the rules.

Isn't it also 'cheating'?

A fair number of clubs may need to be careful about what they wish for!!!

Birdman - big difference between suspicion and actually being caught . You can suspect that clubs may be paying players but unless you have proof, not a lot can be done. When you get caught not once but twice listing a player on a team sheet when he isnt even in the state, that to me say's that more than 1 person at Wembley had an inkling of what they were doing and up until this morning, were probably feel pretty chipper at getting away with it. Sad part is that it is 3 other clubs that are paying the price (see comments above) and Wembley who at this stage still finish on top and still get the week off - where is the penalty in that?

It would appear that Wembley have been punished as per the by-laws.

I am unimpressed as the next person however I do not not support knee-jerk reactions and punishments that extend beyond that prescribed within the by-laws.

Throwing all of their sides out of the finals is an over-reaction to a minor offence.

Agreed that Wembley have gotten off pretty lightly but what you are prescribing is that if the offending team is in finals then the by-laws should be shelved and penalties made up on the fly. What would happen if this occurred in round 3 instead of 18?

As much as it pains me to say it, the penalty can not extend beyond what is laid out in the by-laws.