It has happened again - 19 men on the field

[Bluedemon]

Saints out for the count

From the leader paper in Melbourne 7th July 2008

"SATURDAY'S important St Kilda City-Clayton clash at the Peanut Farm ended in sensation when the Saints' score was wiped 10 minutes into the last quarter after a player count revealed they had 19 men on the field.

The home team was well and truly on track to maintain its unbeaten record this season: it was leading by almost 100 points.

Then things went wrong for St Kilda City.

According to Clayton coach Darren Hulme, it took a little while for it to sink in that the Clays were playing against uneven odds.

"We were doing our match-ups and thought we had them all matched up, but they appeared to have an extra player out on the wing," he said.

"We took a few minutes to count them and made sure they did in fact have 19 players out there before calling for a count."

When the umpires confirmed that a breach of the rules had occurred, the Saints' score point was wiped and suddenly the Magpies held a 61-point lead.

Despite the addition of a further 4.2 by the Saints, Clayton went on to win the game by 43 points.

But it wasn't the victory Hulme had been looking for.

"It's a pretty interesting way to get the four points," he said. "Being realistic, we're looking at close to a 100-point loss and we know we've got plenty of work to do.

"There was no way were going to sing the club song and there was no winning feeling in the rooms afterwards.

"We're happy to get the four points but I'm very disappointed with our effort. We didn't use the ball well and our offensive pressure was virtually non-existent."

St Kilda City coach Richard Houston didn't believe the issue was finished and hinted that the Saints would be seeking to have the result overturned..

"At this point some may believe we won't get the points," he said after the final siren.

"But we will be presenting our version of events to the SFL."

Houston said he was proud of the way his players fought back after the incident.

"The blokes didn't give up and just kept fighting. We can certainly claim a moral victory," he added.

"It's the first time I've ever lost a game that way and it's not a good feeling."

Despite the scoreboard situation, the Saints had a winner in John McNamara, while the Magpies' better players included Craig Deayton, Andrew Ferguson, Davor Rajic and reliable backman Mark McHenry.

It took Murrumbeena more than three quarters to finally subdue an improving Hampton in their division two clash at Peterson Street.

The Lions trailed for much of the day before eventually emerging 19-point winners, thanks to a spirited finish.

Again it was the youthful legs of the Hammers' youngsters that injected some extra run into the host's game, but in the end it was Murrumbeena's experience that prevailed.

Undermanned Caulfield's horror stretch continued with a 140-point belting at the hands of Heatherton at Princes Park.

Following successive losses to teams well below them on the ladder, the Bears were way out of their depth against a switched-on Tonners line-up.

Among the few bright spots for the Bears was the form of youngster James Musstar. Paul O'Neill, Ashleigh Cooper, Adam Pashley and Scott Handley were among the few other winners for Caulfield."

[Dirko]

Onya Hulmey !! Little bastard !!