MINYIP-MURTOA and Warrack Eagles football clubs have voiced concerns about a Wimmera Football League by-law which kept their VFL-listed players out of the finals.
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Eagles pair Jesse Murphy and James Kirby, along with Burras ruckman Kieran Delahunty, were all refused to play after the by-law stated all three had played too many VFL matches this season.
Kirby and Delahunty played the three required matches at their home clubs, but both were unaware they would not be eligible after clocking up nine or more VFL matches. Club presidents Andy Delahunty, Minyip-Murtoa, and Bernard Lindsay, Warrack Eagles, have put in submissions to the WFL commission to get the law changed.
Delahunty said it would have a negative effect on his club and the league if the law stayed.
"It's a real worry for us, because we've got Kieran Delahunty and Declan Foott," he said.
"And going forward, we'll lose them if nothing is done and the league will be the poorer for it."
Lindsay said he was confident the rule would be modified. "I'm not sure if it will be next week or next season, but I think it will get changed," he said.
Delahunty's VFL side Northern Blues wanted him to play in the Goulburn Valley Football League.
The young Burra, who chose to stay true to his home club, tweeted his frustrations on the rule.
"Wimmera Football League is going to stop VFL boys choosing their home club with this rule," he tweeted.
"VFL Development League should be no different to TAC Cup."
WFL chief commissioner John Smith said the commission would look into changing the by-law.
"We'll do everything we can to safeguard the opportunity for these players to play in our league," he said.
"It might be timely for the commission to re-visit the issues and we'll confer with the AFL about our options."
Mr Smith said it was highly unlikely the rule would get changed before the WFL grand final on September 21.