SECTION 2: WORKSAFE AFL VICTORIA COUNTRY RULES AND REGULATIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country - RULES AND REGULATIONS 36 Objectives & Defi nitions 36 1.0 Clearances – Players 37 1.1 Player who has Previously played 37 1.2 Players Seeking Transfer 37 1.3 Penalty for playing ineligible (and/or) unregistered players 37 1.4 Clearance procedure 37 1.5 Uncontested Clearance – Junior Players 38 1.6 Block Clearances 38 1.7 Clearance appeals body 38 1.8 Effect of Refused Clearance on Playing Agreement 38 1.9 Closing date for clearances & permits 38 1.10 Time limit and issue of permit upon failure to return a clearance application(s) 38 1.11 Players Transferred in Employment 39 1.12 Players in Armed Forces 39 1.13 Permit – Under Age Compassionate Permit 39 1.14 Transfer Fees – AFL Victoria Country Clubs 40 1.15 Registered Player 40 1.16 Disbanded and/or Amalgamated Club Player 40 1.17 Player of Disbanded Club and Disbanded League 40 1.18 Player of Disbanded League 40 1.19 Refused Permit or Disqualifi cation 40 1.20 Eligibility of Suspended Player to Seek a Clearance 40 1.21 Registration of Players/Minimum Age Entry Levels 40 1.22 Signing Registration 40 1.23 Coaches 41 2.0 Permits 41 2.1 Permits to Major Leagues 41 2.2 Eight Matches 41 2.3 Rule for District & Junior Leagues 41 2.4 Endorsement 41 2.5 Transfer of Player 41 2.6 Issue of Day Permits & Teams of Clubs competing in different Competitions 42 2.7 One Match per Day 42 2.8 Day Permits – No Appeal 42 2.9 Permits for Players of Opposing Teams 42 2.10 Area Permits 42 2.11 Permits – Students Living Away from Home 43 2.12 Permits – Special Regulations relating to the VAFA 43 2.13 Special Circumstance Permit – Drought/Recess 43 3.0 Transfer of Existing Clubs/Admission of New Clubs 44 4.0 Appeals of Clubs 46 5.0 Unbecoming Conduct 48 5.1 Appointment of Investigation Offi cer 48 5.2 Unbecoming Conduct 48 6.0 Affi liated/Unaffi liated Clubs 49 SECTION 2: WORKSAFE AFL VICTORIA COUNTRY RULES & REGULATIONS 33 7.0 Disciplinary Matters 49 7.1 League Independent Tribunal 49 7.2 Area Appeal Committee 49 7.3 Jurisdiction of League Independent Tribunal and Area Appeals Committee 49 7.4 Appeals Against Refused Clearances – Players 49 7.5 Sanction imposed by a Club – Player Appeal 51 7.6 Procedure and Evidence before League Independent Tribunal and Area Appeals Committee 51 8.0 AFL Victoria Country Appeal Board – Appeal from League Independent Tribunal or Area Appeal Committee Decision 54 8.1 AFL Victoria Country Appeals Board 54 8.2 Regulation Paramount 54 8.3 Right of Appeal 54 8.4 Notice of Appeal 54 8.5 Lodgment of Notice of Appeal 55 8.6 Time for Hearing of Appeal 55 8.7 Obligations of Appeal Board 55 8.8 Adjournment and Stay of Sanction 55 8.9 New Hearing 55 8.10 Procedure and Evidence 56 8.11 Power of the AFL Victoria Country Appeal Board 56 8.12 Onus of Proof 56 8.13 Standard of Proof 56 8.14 Majority Decision 56 8.15 No Reason 56 8.16 Representation 56 8.17 Questions of Law and Fact 56 8.18 Costs 56 8.19 Abandon Appeal 56 8.20 Validity of Hearing 57 8.21 Co-operation with AFL Victoria Country Appeal Board 57 8.22 Exhaust Internal Appeal 57 8.23 Further Time 57 9.0 Racial & Religious Vilifi cation 57 10.0 Interstate Players Transfers 59 11.0 Order Off Rule 59 12.0 Set Penalties 60 13.0 Treatment of Bleeding Players 62 14.0 Finals Eligibility – TAC Cup Players 62 15.0 Underage Competition Players – Gloves 62 16.0 Coaching Accreditation 62 17.0 Offi cial Club Runners/Trainers/Water Carriers 62 17.1 Eligibility 62 17.2 Duties 62 18.0 Representative Team Availability 63 19.0 Club Team Numbers – Country Championships 63 20.0 Service Awards 63 20.1 Recognition of Service Medallion 63 20.2 Award of Merit 63 21.0 Percentage when a club Forfeits 63 22.0 Leagues 63 23.0 Umpires 64 23.1 Registration 64 23.2 Umpires as Players 64 23.3 Players as Umpires 64 23.4 Approaches to Umpires 64 24.0 Domestic Matters 64 34 AFL VICTORIA COUNTRY HANDBOOK 2013 25.0 Interpretations or Rulings from Area Manager or Football Development Manager 64 25.1 Questions not Provided For 64 25.2 Decisions of AFL Victoria Country Board 64 25.3 Authority – Area Manager or Football Development Manager 64 26.0 Licensing 64 27.0 Doping Policy 65 28.0 Risk Management 65 29.0 AFL Junior Match Policy 65 NATIONAL PLAYER TRANSFER REGULATIONS 67 1. General 69 2. Defi nitions 69 3. National Player Transfer Regulations 70 3.1 Transfer Process 70 3.2 Refusals 70 3.3 Transfer Withdrawals 70 3.4 Suspended Players 70 3.5 Appeals 71 3.6 Transfer Fee 71 3.7 Transfer Application Period 71 3.8 Player Age Group 71 3.9 Interchange Agreement 72 3.10 Permits 72 3.11 Player Contracts 72 3.12 Junior Players 72 3.13 Practice and Trial Matches 72 3.14 State Football Body Responsible 73 3.15 24 Month Rule 73 3.16 Separate Agreements 73 3.17 Team in Another Tier 1 League 73 3.18 Northern Territory Football League 73 3.19 State Affi liation - Tier 2 Leagues 73 3.20 New Tier 1 League Club 73 3.21 Transfer of Players to the AFL 74 3.22 Transfer Fee - Delisted AFL Players 74 3.23 AFL Talent Development Fee 74 3.24 Transfer Fees 74 3.25 Permit Committee 75 APPENDICES 76 APPENDIX 1 – Player Transfer Withdrawal Form 76 APPENDIX 2 – Player Transfer Refusal Form 77 AFL VICTORIA AFFILIATES REGULATIONS 79 AFFILIATE TO AFFILIATE - MOVEMENT OF CLUBS 87 AFL (NSW-ACT) / AFL VICTORIA COUNTRY AGREEMENT 93 VICTORIAN COUNTRY FOOTBALL LEAGUE (INC.) PLAYER TRANSFER AGREEMENT WITH THE VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOR MOVEMENT OF PLAYERS BETWEEN AFL VICTORIA COUNTRY AND THE VFL, VFL SENIOR AND UNDER 18 COMPETITIONS, AND THE AFL 94 1. VFL Operations 94 AFL Operations 94 General 95 SECTION 2: WORKSAFE AFL VICTORIA COUNTRY RULES & REGULATIONS 35 WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country RULES AND REGULATIONS OBJECTIVES AND DEFINITIONS game being played both competitively and fairly. It is against this background that relevant disciplinary Objectives bodies have been established and are given power to impose sanctions (such as suspension or a monetary AFL Victoria Country and Leagues wish to ensure sanction) in circumstances where the conduct that teams fi elded in competitions conducted by a of a person is in breach of rules and regulations League are as strong and well matched as possible. applicable to that person or the Laws of Australian The continuing support of such competitions and Football. AFL Victoria Country considers that the the opportunity for players to develop and employ imposition of such penalties is reasonably necessary their skills both depend upon a League continuing to ensure fair and responsible conduct and thereby to conduct vigorous competitions between evenly encourage participation in Australian Football in the matched and fi nancially viable clubs. competitions conducted by Leagues affi liated to AFL In order to achieve these objectives, AFL Victoria Victoria Country. Country has adopted these Rules and Regulations to supplement the provisions of contracts of service Defi nitions between players and their clubs to provide a system In these rules and regulations, unless the context that will: requires otherwise, the following words have the (a) ensure suffi cient stability in the membership following meaning: of Club teams to enable team spirit and public support to be maintained; AFL Victoria Country Appeal Board – the body established by AFL Victoria Country to hear appeals (b) prevent stronger clubs from obtaining an unfair from a decision of a League Independent Tribunal or proportion of the best players at the expense of Area Appeal Committee. the weaker clubs; Aggrieved Person – any person or organisation (c) provide opportunities for players to enter competitions conducted by Leagues and for an subject to the decision of a League Independent orderly system for: Tribunal or Area Appeal Committee, excluding (i) players to move between Clubs; and umpires (ii) Clubs to move between Leagues; Area – has the same meaning as “AFL Victoria (d) provide Clubs with an incentive to expend Country Region” contained in the Statement of Rules time, effort and resources in a development of of AFL Victoria Country. Australian Football. Area Appeal Committee – the body established (e) provide Junior Leagues and Clubs with the under regulation 7.2. opportunity to expand participation within all Area Co-ordinator – the person appointed to levels of under age football. that position by AFL Victoria Country to assist the Under these Rules and Regulations, a player or a respective Area Manager or Football Development Club is restrained in his or its freedom to transfer if it Manager. can be demonstrated that the restraint is necessary to achieve the objectives referred to above. Area Manager – the person appointed to that position by AFL Victoria Country. These Rules and Regulations also establish relevant bodies and a mechanism by which reportable Bye – That a bye shall be defi ned as a break in a draw offences and alleged conduct of persons can be (a) That is caused by an uneven number of teams in referred to, heard and determined by the relevant a competition in any particular round.