Stanhope Football Netball Club is appealling the last-minute decision of the Kyabram District Football League to rule star mid-fielder Ryan Semmel ineligible for the highest individual football award in the competition — the McNamara Medal.
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Semmel last week joined a long list of footballers to poll the most votes in a league best and fairest, only to be left empty handed due to having been found guilty for striking during the home and away season.
He polled 25 votes, five more than the official winner of the award, ironically the son (Jack Exell) of a former Stanhope goalkicking legend and premiership coach — Gavin Exell.
Semmel’s situation is unique, however, given the club was told by the league — only days after he had been reported for striking against Murchsion-Toolamba on August 6 — that he remained eligible for the award.
Twenty years ago, in the Stanhope premiership year of 2000, Ash Comer polled 22 votes to tie for the McNamara Medal. He had been suspended during the home and away season, so was ineligible for the award.
The major difference was that Comer knew well in advance of the vote count that he could not win the award.
Semmel was made aware of his ineligibility just 24 hours before the count.
At a tribunal hearing on August 10 Semmel was found guilty of striking, but was handed a reprimand (not suspended) — there was no suspended sentence attached to the finding and he played the next week (in the final home-and-away round of the season) against Tallygaroopna.
Twenty-four hours after the August 10 tribunal decision Stanhope Football Netball Club president Jason Leocata, and Ryan’s tribunal advocate Vanessa Sleeth, sought clarification on the eligibility of Semmel for the league best and fairest.
He had been a standout player throughout the season, alongside brother Luke, for the club and was considered — as it turns out, correctly — a red-hot favourite to win the league’s top individual honour.
“We asked the league the day after the tribunal whether the guilty finding meant he was ineligible, with the thought that we would appeal the decision if that was the case,” Mr Leocata said.
The club — under league rules — only had until 2pm on the second business day after the tribunal to appeal the decision.
“We emailed the league letting them know that if he was considered ineligible we would appeal the decision, but were informed via email on August 12 that he was still eligible,” Mr Leocata said.
That was six weeks ago and the matter was considered closed by the club — until it received an email on September 21 (the Wednesday before two public holidays) explaining that Semmel had been made ineligible for the award.
“We were told by email at 9pm on Wednesday last week that he was ineligible, before two public holidays and the weekend,” Mr Leocata said.
“We tried to do our best on Monday to appeal the decision.
“I feel a little embarrassed contacting Ryan, because we had specifically asked the league if he was still eligible after being found guilty, but not suspended.
“The league and AFL Goulburn Murray both told us he was eligible.”
Semmel was first past the post at Tuesday evening’s vote count, which had been delayed by five days due to the public holiday for the national day of mourning to recognise the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
He was among several footballers and netballers invited to attend the virtual event — held at the Stanhope clubrooms — by the league on September 9, but 12 days later came the news that shocked the club.
Mr Leocata said he had been contacted by two league executives on Thursday (September 22) to apologise about the initial formation informing the club that Semmel remained eligibile for the award.
Kyabram District League Executive Committee review eligibility of all players who have finished in the top five of all awards.
“We are pretty disappointed, more gutted for Ryan that anything else,” Mr Leocata said.
“And we will attempt to appeal the decision.”
Kyabram District Football Netball League operations manager Julian Perta has been contacted by the club to inform the league of the pending appeal.
Wayne Ryan, a former Stanhope club legend, is a member of the league executive. He stepped away from correspondence in regard to the Semmel scenario because of his connection to the club.
Mr Leocata said only 24 hours before the count the club still held hope it could have the decision changed.
Ms Sleeth was in contact with the league and AFL Goulburn Murray, but the decision was upheld.
The league decision to conduct the vote count online was probably a godsend considering the Semmel situation.
Mr Leocata said the decision for clubs to host their own events was made because of the past two years of COVID-19 interruptions and designed for clubs to raise extra funds.
Neither the Murray league and Goulburn Valley league went that way, instead conducting in-person events.
Those watching the McNamara Medal vote count would have been confused, despite an asterix being alongside Semmel’s name, as no reference was made to his ineligibility.
The count was completed quickly and Semmel’s ineligible status appeared to be washed over.
At the Stanhope event, among the 40 people that attended, it was — understandably — the major topic of discussion.
“Ryan did not attend the night. He was pretty disappointed how the whole thing transpired,” Mr Leocata said.
“He watched the count online.”
The club president, who is also a teammate of Semmel, said he delayed making contact with the star Huntly recruit until Monday.
“Ryan had his brother’s wedding on Friday (the day before the AFL grand final) and I didn’t want to ruin his weekend,” he said.
“I contacted him on Monday.”
Stanhope Football Club and Ms Sleeth made contact with a sports solicitor for advice on the matter, but the limited timeline — two public holidays and the weekend — made legal action difficult.
“We have contacted the league to say we want to challenge the decision,” Mr Leocata said.
“The whole thing is pretty disappointing.”
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