A DISPUTE between Lake Wendouree and Albury football clubs over champion Lakers ruckman Josh Dicketts' release from his playing contract may be arbitrated by the executive of the Victorian Country Football League
ahead of a requested further appeals board hearing.
The Ballarat league's request for the VCFL Appeals Board to arbitrate on an original Ballarat regional hearing to release Dicketts to the Ovens and Murray club may not be necessary, VCFL chief executive officer Glenn Scott
said yesterday.
"If the decision by the Ballarat regional appeals board is concrete and Josh Dicketts is deemed an Albury Tigers player and no longer a Lake Wendouree player then that decision will stand. But until, in racing parlance, we put
up correct weight, it will stay under review for a day or two yet," Mr Scott said.
"We are in the throes of processing the information from the Ballarat hearing.
"What is not in dispute is that the player was under a valid and enforceable contract with Lake Wendouree.
"We may take another day to complete the reviewing of transcripts and all other matters dealing with the process under the VCFL rules and regulations."
Mr Scott said he was unsure at this stage whether a VCFL appeals board hearing would be necessary.
He said normally clubs came to an agreement about how a player's contract could be dissolved.
"We are also viewing this type of matter outside of the clubs and leagues involved and the player."
Mr Scott said player contracts could also involve a club wanting to break a contract as well as a player wanting to break his own contract.
"It is usually the responsibility of the player or club to allow a contract to be broken by either party under whatever circumstances."
It is understood Dicketts, who is now set to play for the Albury Tigers in the Ovens and Murray match-of-the round this Saturday against Yarrawonga, plans to be overseas for four weeks in June.
"The contract is binding, no matter if the player is going overseas or to some other part of the state or Australia. It is still a contract," Mr Scott emphasised.
Lake Wendouree club president Shaun Holloway said the club supported the BFL's move to have the case re-opened at the highest level of appeal.
"It's a test case I guess but it shouldn't be. A couple of Melton South players on contracts were knocked back last week and the night after the reverse happens here at the regional appeals board so the VCFL wants some clarity
to see which way it jumps," Mr Holloway said.
Ballarat league football-netball operations manager Tim Beacham said the VCFL rule book clearly stated that no contracted player could be cleared.
"It is a question of understanding the rules. When Les Hughes was cleared from Lake Wendouree to Creswick this season he was not a contracted player.
"Four Keilor players were knocked back from joining Melton South by Football Victoria on appeal because they were contracted players.
"But there are concerns about this case when a player signs a contract and he can just walk away from it after a decision by the regional appeals board," Mr Beacham said.