Points cap firms for next season

The Great Southern Football League appears set to adopt a player points system for the upcoming season, with a final meeting early next month to decide the specifics after each of the six clubs met with the league executive last week.

A player points system under the WA Country Football League guidelines was raised at the GSFL’s recent annual general meeting and, after much discussion and debate, president Joe Burton has given his strongest indication yet it will be introduced.

Burton believes all participating clubs support the introduction of the points system in 2018, despite some clubs being apprehensive when the idea was raised.

The GSFL will meet with a representative from each of the six clubs at next month’s meeting, when Burton believes local by-laws will be created and more discussion will be had on how many points each team will be allowed.

“Everyone is agreeable on the points system coming in,” he said.

“The details still have to be finalised but we have the support of all the clubs. The league hasn’t adopted anything yet, but once the by-laws are created, the directors will have a meeting in mid-January to finalise it and then move for it to be introduced.”

Burton said under the proposed plans, Albany, who have won one game in their league existence, would receive the most points, with Denmark-Walpole and Mt Barker next.

The three traditional Albany-based clubs — North Albany, Royals and Railways — would get significantly fewer points, but discussion was ongoing as to whether those three get the same figure or a staggered figure on where they finished in season 2017, Burton said.

“Perhaps the three bigger Albany clubs will be staggered — that’s still being discussed,” he said.

“But we don’t want to go over 30 points with them.

“That would defeat the purpose.

“This is about helping the Sharks, but at the end of the day it’s about evening up the competition.

“It means one club can’t attract all the good players into their side.

“We can’t force players to go somewhere. I wouldn’t think we’ll get it spot-on in year one, but I’d imagine we will be pretty close.”