Two Essendon District Football League women’s sides barred from grand final over violent preliminary final

A preliminary final marred by physical altercations and an alleged assault has seen two women’s teams in the Essendon District Football League barred from playing in the grand final.

League intervention was required in the match between Oak Park and Westmeadows, according to The Age, which was marred by physical altercations between players, the alleged assault of a coach as well as unruly crowd behaviour.

The Highgate Reserve match was halted at halftime with Oak Park leading 21-1 as both teams agreed conditions had become unsafe.

As a result, the league decided to ban the sides from playing in the decider, with EDFL chief executive Ian Kyte claiming the clubs were to blame for what had transpired.

“The fault lay with both clubs. One club cannot be blamed more than the other. There is a fair bit of information floating around which is incorrect,” he told The Age.

“I was actually at the game. I am extremely clear with what happened. Both clubs are to blame.”

The eliminated fourth-placed club, Aberfeldie, will now get a second chance, taking on Keilor in the grand final at Windy Hill.

It is believed two Westmeadows players being carded on the stroke of halftime sparked a war of words between the sides that spilled into the break where it’s alleged Oak Park co-coach Nicholas Cook was physically assaulted by a person at the ground.

“There were altercations which occurred between officials, spectators and players. It was deemed by myself and other EDFL staff that were there that, for the safety for all those present, spectators, players, officials and EDFL staff, the game should not continue,” Kyte said.

“It’s a passionate game, but this is another incident that has occurred where, right across metro Melbourne this year, I am not sure of country footy, but I know of metro football; it’s like some form of entitlement coming out of lockdown that people think they are no longer under any rules or regulations, that they can do whatever they want,” he said.

“We have a zero tolerance to that, and we will not be put in any position by any club that puts the game, us, themselves into disrepute.”