AFL Cairns has slapped Port Douglas with a hefty $3500 fine on the eve of its opening round clash with Cairns Saints.

The Crocs were found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute following its forfeit to the Saints in the Grand Final of the XXXX Pre-season Cup last weekend, when it couldn’t field a team due to injuries.

The league handed down a $2000 fine for its forfeit and a further $3000 for bringing the game into disrepute. $1500 of the latter penalty is a suspended fine for two years.

AFL Cairns President Gary Young said the decision was a difficult one to assess.

“We do not feel the Port club deliberately wanted to forfeit. However better preventative action could have been taken especially on the day,” he said.

“Earlier notice of a shortage of players could have allowed us to elevate the third placed team into the Grand Final. We did not have that opportunity.”

Young said the league was trying hard to develop itself as one of the most professional sporting bodies in Northern Queensland, and incidents like this undermine that.

“Our clubs and the League work really hard to present a professional impression of AFL footy in Far North Queensland,” he said.

“Events like this, as unintentional as they might be, undo a lot of really good work. The Board must impose meaningful sanctions so that everyone understands their responsibility in the everyday delivery of our great game.”

The Crocs take on the Saints in what will be a hotly contested round one opener at Cazalys Stadium at 6pm tomorrow night.

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