"Probably more so that it's the championship/strong team rather than one of the battling teams. And also that it doesn't really seem to be adding a typically Oceanic type but an American with import-level stats.
I'd guess that's what people are uncomfortable about. They want to see a competitive league first and foremost."
So because Perth utilised the rule to the letter of the law and found a fantastic player who qualifies as an Oceanic local, we have people who are trying to have that player deemed illegible on a technicality?
The rule isn't "Oceaniac players are considered locals...unless one happens to be really, really good, in which case we will blow the whole thing apart" and I think its quite sad that people are going down that road just because their biggest rival succeeded in getting the best out of the rule.
It should also be noted that the rule was referenced when Wesley was signed, but no one looked in to it at all. In fact, it was reported as being a good use of the rule, and it was also mentioned that other clubs had him on their radar. But now that Perth did it, they address it differently.
And on the comment about people wanting to see a competitive league - sure, that is the plan, but if a club is poorly managed, like it has been for several years, it isn't the responsibility of other clubs to "hold back" in order to maintain parity.
