A local footy team has been left heartbroken after being forced to forfeit their place in the grand final.

Victorian Amateur Football Association powerhouse Old Xaverians beat APS rivals St Kevin’s in the under 19 premier men’s preliminary final by five points on Saturday.

Xavs came from two points behind at three quarter-time to book their spot in this week’s grand final against Old Brighton — or so they thought — only to be disqualified on Sunday when the league found they fielded an ineligible player.

In a statement, the VAFA explained the decision: “The VAFA has investigated and confirmed that Old Xaverians U19 men’s team fielded an ineligible player in the Holmesglen U19 premier men’s preliminary final match against St Kevin’s U19 men’s yesterday (Saturday 12 September).

“In accordance with VAFA rule 50, “A club which includes a player who is not eligible in a team by which it is represented in a premiership match shall be fined as prescribed in schedule of fines contained in rule 129 ($100) and shall forfeit all matches in which such player played.... Each such match shall be awarded to the opposing club....”

“Accordingly, St Kevin’s U19 men’s will proceed through to the Holmesglen U19s premier men’s grand final match against Old Brighton U19 men’s on Saturday 19th September at Revo Fitness Park.”

The VAFA has not specified why the player was deemed ineligible to play.

Old Brighton and Old Xaverians were the two standout teams of the season, having finished first and second respectively.

But Xavs beat the minor premiers as recently as four weeks ago, and would have fancied their chances to upset the premiership favourites again in next week’s decider.

Old Xaverians have been contacted for comment.

It’s been a year littered with controversy for the VAFA, which has been criticised by multiple clubs for its administration of its women’s competitions in particular.

Fitzroy Football Club hit out at the league earlier this month when they had their finals hopes dashed after being told an earlier season game between two other clubs had been abandoned due to an ineligible player, which changed the make-up of the ladder.

Fitzroy won their final home-and-away season game believing it was enough to qualify for the VAFA women’s premier finals.

That was until a match between St Kevin’s and Kew was retrospectively scrapped, throwing the match ratios out and relegating Fitzroy to fifth, outside of a finals position.

In a statement, the club said it was “bitterly disappointed” with the league’s handling of the situation, “including how it was communicated”.

“We were also left with a situation where our women have continued to train this week in the hope that the matter would be investigated and resolved satisfactorily,” the statement read.

“To say we are frustrated with the decision is an understatement. Fitzroy believes that the VAFA made the wrong decision in declaring the match abandoned, and requested an urgent, independent investigation into the matter on Monday 31 August.

“It goes to a concern that this premier women’s competition is not being as well run as it should be.

“The fact the top tier of the VAFA has only nine teams creates a situation such as this to occur. As one of the top levels of women’s football in Australia, it beggars belief that an odd number of teams are in the division. Would this happen in the Men’s Premier competition?”

Earlier, St Mary’s Salesian released a statement of their own on a separate matter that saw them disqualified from the finals after initially winning their semi-final against Camberwell.

“We are extremely disappointed with the outcome and devastated for our players, coaches, volunteers and supporters, who have given so much throughout the season,” the club said.

“Regardless of this outcome, we are incredibly proud of our Women’s team and everything they achieved this year. Their commitment, resilience and support for one another have represented the club with distinction.”

Separately, Ajax player Toby Sheezel — the cousin of North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel — was ruled ineligible for a crucial Round 16 clash with Old Camberwell in the VAFA’s premier B men’s competition as he faced a drawn-out tribunal hearing.

In Round 11, Sheezel was involved in an alleged marking contest clash with Old Ivanhoe player Jacob Agrotis, who suffered a concussion as a result and missed the next two games before being medically cleared to return.

Sheezel’s case was not heard at the tribunal until mid-August, some six weeks after the incident.

Ajax claimed they were only told of the report on July 15, just over a week after the game in question, while Sheezel was away on holiday.

Sheezel returned from holiday to play in Ajax’s August 1 and August 8 games before the club was eventually told he must face the tribunal.

He finally had his case heard in front of a tribunal on August 13, but had it adjourned, meaning he was forced to miss that weekend’s game.

Sheezel was cleared the following week and returned for Ajax’s Round 17 matchup with De La Salle.