Matt Notman will be free to play with Melton South after Saturday’s Ballarat Football League season opener against Melton.
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Melton agreed to clear Notman after a mediation session between the crosstown rivals on the condition the transfer would not be approved until after their clash with Melton South at Melton Recreation Reserve.
The agreement also included financial compensation – details of which remain confidential – which is permitted outside the salary cap.
An AFL Victoria panel called the mediation session on Tuesday night in a last-bid effort to have the clubs resolve the stand-off and avoid going through an appeal hearing, which had been set for the same night.
Melton had refused three clearance applications by Notman on the grounds he had signed a contract with the Bloods for 2017 before deciding he wanted to return to the Panthers, where he played juniors and began his senior career.
Melton South joint coach Sean Triplett said the Panthers were delighted with the outcome.
He said as far as he was concerned commonsense had prevailed.
“He’s a former Melton South junior wanting to come back to his home club. He’s bought into what we’re doing.”
Triplett said the whole player group had been rapt with the news.
Melton football manager Brad Jamison said it was clear Notman did not want to continue with the Bloods and had been prepared to stand out of the game if unsuccessful in getting a clearance.
Jamison said he had lost count of the number of hours he and other volunteers around the club had put into this issue over the past five months.
“It’d be scary if you added them up.”
He said Melton believed it was time to move on and put its energy into other areas.
Jamison said it was important that experience emphasised that player contracts did mean something and clubs should stand firm, given the option of compensation offered a way of resolving matters of this type.
Notman spent three years on the Western Jets under-18 list in the TAC Cup while with Melton South and after progressing to the seniors won a best and fairest with the Panthers.
He crossed to Melton in 2013 and in his four seasons at MacPherson Park represented the BFL.
He is set to make his first appearance for Melton South against Sunbury at Melton Recreation Reserve on Good Friday, which like this Saturday is a standalone fixture.