WA Football Commission holds education workshops for league clubs as review findings revealed

A streamlined complaints process for vilification and discrimination, a tougher social media policy targeting trolls and appointing a match day contact to deal with any off-field incidents are among many outcomes stemming from a review into the Great Northern Football League.

As well, the league will take a stronger stance in dealing with concussion and any incidents that bring the game into disrepute, including off-field.

The WA Football Commission held workshops over the weekend for all seven GNFL clubs as the outcomes of the review were shared with players, coaches, volunteers and staff.

Prompted by a series of on and off-field cases of violence and antisocial behaviour last season, the GNFL invited the WAFC to conduct a thorough review of the league, which included conducting surveys of clubs and identifying areas which the league needed to improve on.

Last year’s ugly instances included an on-field brawl at a colts game between Brigades and Mullewa, which involved players, Brigades coach and ex-AFL player Jayden Schofield and a Brigades parent being slapped with hefty penalties. Then former AFL player and Rovers forward Shannon Cox became embroiled in a punch-up in the carpark of the Rec Ground during a game.

The review findings were initially released to club committees and now in partnership with members of the WAFC and umpires representatives, those findings were delivered over the weekend.

WAFC integrity manager Steve Hargrave, who was helping to deliver the workshops, said these sessions were the first of its kind.

“This is the first time we’ve delivered consistent player education to the league in our history, with the South West also undertaking something this year,” he said at Railways’ workshop.

“The incidents we saw in the GNFL are not much different from being experienced around Australia but the invitation to us by the league is an opportunity to deliver better footballing outcomes.”

The workshops focused on key areas, both on and off-field, for clubs and the league to work on.

Vilification and discrimination was the first point with former AFL champion Harry Taylor helping to develop an operational plan to bring the complaints process more in line with the AFL.

Bylaws have been removed to make clearer what is and isn’t acceptable and to make sure allegations of abuse go through proper channels driven by the alleged victim.

In sync with this is a more robust GNFL media policy stating social media should not be used to abuse, vilify or otherwise discriminate, with those in breach of the policy facing punishments from the clubs or league.

Behaviour detrimental to the league will be looked at more closely with it first being brought to the club’s attention before progressing to the league or the commission depending on the severity.

This includes incidents off-field that may bring the game into disrepute, with it being stressed anytime someone was wearing a club or league shirt they were representing the league.

The commission has also identified minimum standards which clubs have for the obligation and wellbeing of players.

This includes all clubs having a designated contact on match day which any off-field incidents can be reported to. Clubs must meet these minimum standards or face penalties including the loss of competition points.

Concussion was also looked out with clubs needing to provide qualified trainers and recognise the symptoms and remove affected players more regularly with a no-risk approach emphasised.

Safeguarding younger players was also mentioned with clubs to keep on top of working with children’s checks and nurture the growth of young footballers, with the GNFL having some of the largest growth in 15-16-year-olds in the State particularly with women according to the commission.

A separate umpires presentation followed, which called for more engagement between umpires and players, which the GNFL has already started, employing a dedicated umpires co-ordinator, and the need for greater understanding, with 80 per cent of umpires reporting abuse Statewide.