Renewed calls for mercy rule after 312 point loss

The 51.19 (325) to 2.1 (13) result was the largest margin in the Horsham District football league in 10 years, since Natimuk United lost to Kalkee by 333 points in round eight, 2009.

Mr Nagorcka said the thumping was "demoralising", and urged governing bodies to help prevent such hideously lopsided results.

"I think that the Horsham District league, the AFL or the VCFL seriously have to look at bringing in some mercy rules if the leagues aren't going to even themselves out," Mr Nagorcka said.

"Nobody likes going to a game of footy and watching a game like that, where it is just so one-sided it's not funny.

"It's just demoralising for country clubs."

Mr Nagorcka said he was concerned about a trend of unevenness in country football. A fortnight ago the Ararat Eagles were on the end of a historic 509 point loss to Great Western in the Mininera and district football league.

"I think they seriously need to look at country footy and have a review of where it's at," he said.

"We absolutely would've taken a mercy rule on Saturday. When it gets to 200 points or something like that, just say, 'fantastic, let's go have a few beers and enjoy each others company,' rather than sit there and think about how many goals its going to end up being."

In the Horsham District league, there is already a mercy rule for under-14 and under-17 football. Teams will play out a full match, but the official final margin will be a maximum of 60 for under-14s or 72 for under-17s.

Harrow-Balmoral playing-coach Nick Pekin said he would be open to the idea of a mercy rule.

"I'd be all for it - we as a playing group felt sorry for the Laharum boys," Pekin said. "I've never been involved in a defeat of that margin before.

"When you play in games like that, you can't really take your foot off the pedal. My call was it's about momentum for us, we've got two big games coming up against Swifts and Jeparit-Rainbow, so we have to be switched on."

Mr Nagorcka said he held no grudge against Harrow-Balmoral, but the Southern Roos were simply too strong.

"They are an unbelievable side - you may as well call it and just give them the trophy now," he said.

"I don't know the answer ... but I think whoever makes the decisions should think about having two divisions, so we can even up these competitions. Like the Southern Mallee Giants moving into the Wimmera league a few years ago.

"But the problem with that is the under-17s, the juniors, the netball is ... a totally different thing, so from a whole club perspective, it is different."

Harrow-Balmoral president Rosemary Langley said moving leagues was not something the club was thinking about.

"It's nothing we've ever considered," she said.

"We're pretty glad to be in the HDFL, it's ran quite well and we're quite comfortable where we are."

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