Player points revamp - Clubs to get second chance to revoke penalties

FOOTBALL clubs caught up in the Player Points System (PPS) system breach could have their penalties revoked only if they meet certain requirements, AFL Gippsland has announced. 
AFL Gippsland will implement an ‘enhanced management and education program’ around the PPS.

After 71 senior clubs from Gippsland leagues were found by AFL Gippsland to have incorrectly allocated the PPS values of one or more players during the 2022 season, and the clubs were subsequently sanctioned.

AFL Gippsland will deliver a ‘reinvigorated training program after taking into account feedback from clubs, with six PPS training seminars scheduled for February 2023. 

For clubs that meet participation and general compliance requirements, AFL Gippsland will remove sanctions imposed on that club. 

The move is designed to improve the integrity of the PPS in 2023 and beyond, ease the burden on volunteers, help clubs and ensure best-practice PPS management is adopted across the region. 
Gippsland Football League board chair Brett Tessari said the whole situation had been disappointing, and believes some clubs were dealt with too harshly.

“The Gippsland League, as far as I know, there was a couple of minor infringements but no real serious breach of the point system,” he said.

“The concern I have is that most of our clubs that were served with suspension fines, were equivalent to the team that breached the rules and started this whole investigation.”

AFL Gippsland Region Manager, Cameron McPhan, said in a statement last week that, “We have welcomed all responses received from clubs following the recent breach notices which has pleasingly reinforced the commitment to the PPS and Allowable Player Payments (APP) and delivered initiatives as to how a reset in Gippsland can be beneficial whilst acknowledging that all levels of the game must work in collaboration,” he said. 

“Where clubs participate in the reset by attending PPS training sessions either in person or virtually and meet minimum compliances associated with the management of the PPS for 2023, AFL Gippsland will remove the sanctions imposed on individual clubs, including the period of suspension. A reset is considered necessary and will improve integrity in the PPS and therefore football in Gippsland.

“I am pleased that we can offer the opportunity to revoke the suspended penalties, reset the region by supporting clubs with training, education and a region review of PPS allocations which aligns to the compliance requirements in the policy to mitigate the risks which have been exposed at all levels during 2023.”

AFL Gippsland has also responded to initiatives presented by clubs with McPhan confirming the introduction of a Player Points Panel, whose purpose will be to consider applications from clubs for additional points and individual player requests for reassessment as provided for in the PPS policy. 

AFL Gippsland are seeking Expressions of Interest to join the Player Points Panel as independent members.