WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE DECISION? SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS STORY AND POST A COMMENT.MT Waverley's main challenger for the Southern Football League division 3 premiership, the Doveton Eagles, were booted out of the competition last week.
The Eagles, who were second on the ladder behind the Mountain Lions on percentage, were disqualified for the rest of the season because of the continual abuse of umpires by their coach Barry Giddens .
The league found that Giddens defied an AFL Victoria ban and continued to coach.
It follows a number of complaints over the past two years about abusive and threatening behaviour by Giddens towards umpires. As many as a dozen umpires in the league had refused to officiate at games if Giddens was on the sidelines.
Giddens was suspended for three matches in May for abuse of umpires. He later had his accreditation revoked by AFL Victoria after the club failed to comply with the suspensions and get him to participate in an education program to improve his attitude towards the men in white.
Umpires at a July 10 match against Moorabbin reported that Giddens was still coaching after being suspended.
SFL chief executive Wayne Holdsworth said the decision to disqualify the club hadn't been taken lightly.
"Doveton Eagles and their coach have been given repeated warnings and sanctioned by the league, yet they continued to ignore them.
"As a league, we will not tolerate constant abuse and intimidation of our umpires by coaches." Holdsworth said the league fully supported the AFL's attempts to stamp out mistreatment of umpires and promote respect for them at all levels.
"Umpires deserve to be treated with respect by all players, coaches, officials and spectators, and we have a responsibility to protect them and ensure they remain an integral part of the game."
Clubs scheduled to play Doveton in the next five rounds will be awarded the four points. The Eagles will have to reapply to join the league next season.
Mt Waverley is the outright ladder leader after smashing Moorabbin by 80 points, 21.9(135) to 8.7(55).
Robert Donnelly was unstoppable up forward booting six goals, while Matthew Jefferies provided the Mountain Lions with a two-pronged attack, kicking five goals.
Oakleigh District won a hard-fought division 2 encounter against Skye, 15.6(96) to 13. 8(86). Joshua Wright continued his rich vein of form in front of goals with a best-on-ground performance of seven goals.
Ladder leader Clayton easily accounted for Ashwood by 75 points, 20.13(133) to 8.10(58).
Richard Szerszyn, arguably the best forward in the competition, bagged seven goals and was ably supported by Jordan Nevitt with five goals.
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