Sebastopol-listed footballer Conor Dickson is likely to spend the season on the sidelines after an appeal to receive a transfer to Central Highlands club Learmonth was knocked back by the AFL Vic Country appeals panel.
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The matter had been referred to the panel by the Lakies at Dickson’s request after the 21-year-old made multiple transfer requests to move Learmonth which were all denied.
Learmonth president Matt Hines said he was disappointed by the decision which would likely force the talented youngster from the game for the year.
“I’m more disappointed for Conor than the Learmonth Football Club,” Hines said. “I spoke to him last night and he was devastated.”
The half back had signed a contract with the Kookaburras in August last year, when he was living in Melbourne but had access to a car. While Dickson no longer has access to a car he lives with two Learmonth footballers who drive to training and matches.
Hines said a clause in Dickson’s contract with the Kookaburras stated he could relinquish his responsibilities to the club if he was unable to make it to Sebastopol due to travel reasons.
While Dickson has not played a game for either club this season, he has been training with the Lakies and has been present at all of their four games this season.
Hines said despite the ruling the change to Dickson’s circumstances meant he would not be able to play for the Kookaburras in 2016.
“He’s a good young footballer and he’s been denied the opportunity to play football,” Hines said. “No one wins; Sebastopol don’t win, we don’t win and Conor certainly doesn’t win.”
Dickson played his junior football at Sebastopol and was selected to represent the BFL in the under-18.5 interleague side in 2012. Dickson played for the Kookaburras as recently as last year, where he played off half back in the senior competition.
Sebastopol coach Shane Snibson said the club took “no glee” from the outcome. “We didn’t have any expectations either way, we just put forward our view and we were well aware of Conor’s position,” Snibson said. “We put full faith in the process.”
While further avenues are available to challenge the ruling made on Monday night, Learmonth has stated it will not pursue the findings further.
The decision will mark the end of the two month ordeal, after Dickson first made a transfer application to play at the Lakies in early March.
Snibson said Sebastopol had engaged in open and professional communication with Dickson throughout the saga, and maintained that the club’s expectations of the player to uphold his contractual obligations were reasonable.
“We certainly think it’s a reasonable position that players honour their contracts,” Snibson said.
“We’ve been dealing with the case on merit and with any information given to us at any time and we’ve taken a lot of care and consideration in light of our position.”
When asked whether the club would reevaluate its position if Dickson refused to play for the Kookaburras in 2016, Snibson said “I think its hypothetical given last nights ruling”.