Goons feel jilted

By RUSSELL BENNETT
NAR NAR Goon players felt robbed of the chance of competing for four crucial premiership points on Saturday, after the Ellinbank and District Football League called off their clash against Lang Lang.
But Tigers president Adrian Jenkins said the league made the only decision it could, and didn’t have a crystal ball to predict the weather clearing the following day.
The league opted to cancel the game on Friday night after torrential rain blocked roads in and out of Lang Lang, where the game was to be played.
The EDFL also called off Ellinbank’s clash with Kooweerup, fearing for the safety of spectators, club members and players trying to drive through dangerous flood waters to get to the ground.
The league awarded two premiership points for each of the four teams involved, but the Goon’s player coach Clint Williams said that was a “cop out”.
“We just wanted the chance to play, whether we won or lost,” he said.
“There was no reason the game couldn’t have gone ahead on Saturday – the ground was fine”.
But the league stood behind its decision to call the game off the night before. Following Monday night’s executive meeting, EDFL secretary Mick Keane said: “We made the right decision, given the circumstances.
“It wasn’t just the condition of the ground, it was the condition of the whole surrounding area.”
Keane said the league “did not take its decision lightly”, and its priority was to ensure the safety of all club members and representatives, “given the dangerous conditions”.
“When we made the call, Lang Lang was cut off,” he said.
“Reports were that the South Gippsland highway was blocked and could be for the whole weekend.
“We waited as long as possible to make the call.”
Nar Nar Goon president Tess Noonan said the club was “pretty disappointed” with the league’s decision, but it would make the playing group more determined to have a strong finish to its season.
“We weren’t consulted in the decision but the league spoke to the people who know the ground best,” she said.
“We have to accept the decision and move on.”
Jenkins said his players also wanted to play, “but for the safety of all involved, this was the only decision (the league) could make”.
Williams said the Goon could be hurt by walking away with just two points, in a season with a finals race going down to the wire.
“Teams like Cora Lynn and Bunyip have a free chance to go ahead of us now,” he said.
“We’ve got a tough draw that’s been made even harder but we’ve got the time to rectify it.
“This will be in the back of players’ minds for the rest of the season.”