Casey-South Melbourne officials cleared former player Lukas Hoogenboom to Hawthorn-Monash University last Thursday after an ongoing battle. 15008 Picture: Luke Plummer.By Marc McGowan
HAWTHORN-Monash University Cricket Club president Glenn Jones has warned there is more to come in the Lukas Hoogenboom saga despite Casey-South Melbourne officials agreeing to clear the fast bowler last Thursday.
Hawthorn-Monash University’s solicitor Paul Horvath issued the Swans with a 2pm deadline last Thursday to clear Hoogenboom – which they did – but Cricket Victoria (CV) officials told the Hawks that he would be unavailable to play last weekend.
CV officials said their pennant committee members, which were not sitting until the following Monday, needed to grant permission for Cranbourne resident Hoogenboom, 22, to play.
The matter was set to go before the Supreme Court on Friday until CV officials chose to settle out of court and allow him to play.
Two weeks ago CV’s pennant committee appeals tribunal dismissed Hoogenboom’s appeal against the CV pennant committee’s decision not to clear him four days earlier.
Casey-South Melbourne officials initially refused to clear Hoogenboom to Hawthorn-Monash University after he had spent the previous two seasons developing in their program.
But Jones said the Hoogenboom resolution was only “round one of about 30” with CV.
Horvath sent a letter at the start of this week to CV chief executive Tony Dodemaide to inform him that Hawthorn-Monash University officials would be seeking to recoup the costs associated with the Hoogenboom case.
Jones said the costs involved were up to $20,000 and that Hawthorn-Monash University was a “disgruntled affiliated Premier club”.
“We are going to chase a substantial amount from CV and Casey-South Melbourne because it was party to the proceedings and because of its pigheadedness in clearing a player,” he said.
“Everybody is responsible for their own commercial decision.”
Dodemaide said CV would not cover Hawthorn-Monash University’s legal costs.
“We didn’t agree or condone the legal action there. Glenn and his committee committed the club to the action they took and from our point of view it was unnecessary,” he said.
“The fact they went down the legal road is of great disappointment to CV and the other 17 clubs.”
Dodemaide also said that the costs Hawthorn-Monash University’s solicitors were seeking were less than $10,000 – not $20,000 as Jones stated to the News last Friday.
Casey-South Melbourne president Mick Taylor was disappointed to lose Hoogenboom and felt he left for the wrong reasons.
Taylor said his club was not liable for Hawthorn-Monash University’s legal costs.
“I don’t think we’ve got any liability. I don’t understand his (Jones’) thinking. A lot of his arguments through the whole process have not had much substance to them,” Taylor said.
“(If a judge did find us liable it) would certainly put us in the red by the end of the year.
“I don’t even want to consider that (the club folding). I don’t think it’s a possibility and I don’t think Glenn’s got any claim.”
Taylor also said he doubted whether his relationship with former Victorian and South Melbourne team-mate, and ex-Casey-South Melbourne president, Graham Yallop could “get back on track”.
Yallop resigned from the Swans’ presidency to accept the role as director of cricket at Monash University in May, triggering a mass player exchange between Casey-South Melbourne and Hawthorn-Monash University.
Hoogenboom said last Friday that it was a relief to be able to play cricket again.
“I didn’t know this was happening when I was in England and then I got home two weeks ago and got blown away by how big a deal Casey made of this,” he said.
“All I wanted was to get cleared and I didn’t want to burn any bridges.
“I just wanted to try something new. The facilities at Monash University are fantastic, they are a good bunch of blokes and we have a very good team.”
