Darley requested a four-point increase to its cap for the 2020 A-grade netball season based on an argument that the player points system disadvantaged lower-placed clubs.

However, the BFNL said the club didn't meet the criteria to be eligible for an increase under the system's rules.

"Darley put forward its argument about why they should have an increased cap, but we looked at the bigger picture and they don't meet the circumstances where they need the additional points," Ballarat Football Netball League manager Shane Anwyl said.

Several players joined Darley from Rupertswood in the off-season to play under new coach Dianne McCormack.

ORIGINAL STORY: BFNL enforces player point system

The Devils coach raised concerns the system benefited top-placed teams because it made allowances for players who had played at a club for a number of years.

Most of Darley's players, however, cost maximum points to take the court because it's their first year at the club.

McCormack said some leeway needed to be given to teams at the bottom of the ladder because they had higher player turnover.

"Because good teams win, all their players stay on," she said.

"Our club was in decline and had an opportunity to come in and be competitive and build up the club but we are being hamstrung by the points system."

McCormack said if Darley wasn't successful immediately it might lose players to other clubs and the cycle would start all over again.

Anwyl made no apologies for the BFNL's decision, saying the points system was implemented to develop juniors and slow down clubs from bringing in clusters of players from other clubs.

He said the system was designed to incentivise clubs to play its juniors in higher grades and develop its players from within.

"They have the capability to play juniors, existing players and new players within the 26-point structure and we see no reason why they can't work within that," he said.

Anwyl said in order to meet the criteria for extra points, clubs needed to demonstrate a sustained period of poor performance, which translated to no finals success.

Darley hasn't made finals in any of the last seven seasons. The closest it came was a seventh-placed finish in 2013.

Anwyl also said clubs needed to be from a remote location which only applied to district clubs and not the BFNL.

"The intention of the player points system is to develop juniors," Anwyl told The Courier.

"If clubs play juniors they will have a lower points value, whereas if you bring in players they have a higher points value."

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