Instead it has handballed the issue to the state’s governing body, AFL Victoria.A Richmond Central player recorded a group of players from VAFA club Kew training at the Kevin Bartlett Oval last Sunday week.He challenged the players and had a verbal stoush with Kew senior coach Ian Aitken, the former Carlton premiership defender.“Oi, who the f–k is in charge here? What’s going on? This is our oval, you can’t be f–king training here, and it’s f–king lockdown too,’’ the Richmond Central player says at the start of the video.“What are you doing?“This is Richmond Central, get the f–k off our oval … you can’t be doing this, it’s our oval and it’s lockdown.’’At one point, a player can be seen trying to push Aitken away from the confrontation.The Richmond club sent the footage to the VAFA and also contacted Yarra Council about the episode.A Richmond Central official said the player who took the video had seen a group of players taking part in organised training at the Kevin Bartlett Oval a week earlier, also during lockdown.The VAFA investigated the matter and Kew has escaped punishment.The association will also take no action against Aitken, but it has referred him to AFL Vic.In a statement yesterday, VAFA CEO Brett Connell said the VAFA accepted Kew’s explanation that the training session wasn’t sanctioned by the club and “no further action will be taken against the club’’.“As the matter directly relates to coaching and coach accreditation, the VAFA has referred the matter to AFL Victoria and requested that they investigate the matter and advise further of any sanctions or recommendations,’’ he said.“The matter has been elevated to AFL Victoria as it is clear (from the video evidence provided) that this is a coaching-related activity held during the recent State Government enforced lockdown and we believe the actions may have breached restrictions in place at the time.“As coach accreditation is the domain of the AFL, we have requested that AFL Victoria investigate the matter as it relates directly to the coach accreditation.’’Connell added: “The VAFA views the actions that took place in the video footage from all concerned dimly and reiterate that State Government restrictions and AFL Victoria return to play protocols must be strictly adhered to by all members of the VAFA community.“To be concise, any individual or club not observing the current restrictions and protocols in place, are putting the remainder of the VAFA season and finals series in jeopardy.’’Aitken, 64, figured in Carlton’s 1987 premiership team and had 61 matches for the Blues before crossing to St Kilda, where he played five games in 1993.
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