Penalty pain for Kangas

North Albany have been stripped of four premiership points after the Great Southern Football League discovered the Kangas had played an ineligible player in their round 12 clash with Denmark-Walpole last Sunday.

West Australian Country Football League by-laws state that a player who plays in a WACFL league is then unable to play in a different competition on the same weekend.

Corey Hitchcock kicked four goals from seven possessions in the Claremont Tigers’ one point win over Perth in the WAFL colts competition on August 5.

The young wingman then backed up the next day as the Kangas demolished the Magpies by 129 points in the GSFL.

GSFL general manager Paul Higginson said the club had been notified.

“At this stage, North Albany will lose their points,” he said.

“We’re just following the by-laws.”

Kangas president Iian Woods said they had asked the league to reconsider.

“I don’t think the rule is designed for that purpose,” he said. “We’re trying to put player development at the forefront and we’re being penalised.

“We weren’t aware of the law but that’s no excuse — we’ll accept whatever the league decides.”

It was Hitchcock’s second game of colts for Claremont this season while he has played nine league matches for the defending premiers in the GSFL.

As a result of the penalty, the Kangas drop from first to third spot on the ladder, with Mt Barker and Royals now four points clear in the race for the minor premiership and the right to host the second semifinal.

The Kangas face the Bulls and Lions in the final two games of the regular season.

It is understood the GSFL will discuss the issue at an executive meeting on Thursday night.