"We felt that it was a fair hearing, we felt we had a fair say and the outcome, we were willing to accept whatever it was," he said.
"Our side had it in the back of their mind that they could be playing so they were training with other sides at the club and will go in tomorrow facing a formidable side in Kyabram."
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Moama has been booted out of the GMC finals following a 90 minute tribunal hearing on Thursday night.
An independent panel heard that Moama’s opponents Echuca South had fielded an ineligible player in their clash on Saturday and decided the GMC had broken two of its own bylaws in not calling the match a forfeit.
The panel’s decision was to dock Moama six points, meaning the club tied with Echuca on points, but Echuca has the better percentage — knocking the Magpies out of tomorrow’s semi-final against Kyabram Fire Brigade.
Echuca will take Moama’s spot and play Fire Brigade at Moama Recreation Reserve in the semi-final.
But the saga may not end there.
Moama still has the right to appeal to Northern Rivers — which could see Saturday’s matches suspended while a decision is made.
Goulburn Murray Cricket operations manager James Stokes said despite breaking two of their own bylaws, the GMC was content with their approach.
‘‘While we were confident in our decision on the management, the independent tribunal saw it differently and ruled in favour of Echuca, stating we broke two bylaws,’’ Stokes said.
‘‘They ruled in favour and awarded Moama 12 points for round 14 (instead of 18) which put Echuca and Moama on the same points.
‘‘I think (Echuca) was pleased, but there was a fair bit at the tribunal come out about Echuca South’s lack of administration — they played a player who was not registered to their club . . . they will be penalised.’’
Stokes said it was a rough outcome for Moama to be penalised for something Echuca South did wrong, but in future the GMC would not let it get to this stage.
‘‘The GMC from this day forward will only be acting within their bylaws,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m not happy with the outcome. While I understand that we didn’t follow the bylaws, we didn’t want to give a free hit to anyone.
‘‘But in hindsight we won’t be doing it again, we’ll just follow the bylaws. The tribunal was very impressed with the Moama CC in their professionalism and equally with Echuca in tricky circumstances.’’
Echuca South’s punishment will likely not be seen to until after the GMC’s senior presentations on March 6.
‘‘It’s up to the board’s discretion and it’s in our ‘playing an unregistered player’ bylaw, so it’s up to the board on the penalty. But it can be up to $200 plus other sanctions,’’ Stokes said.
‘‘I thought the board acted within the spirit of the game but we do understand the decision that the tribunal has made.’’
A representative from Moama CC has been contacted by the Riv.
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