St Kilda will get the maximum four points for Saturday night’s cancelled pre-season match in Wangaratta after the AFL ruled that Essendon could have made more of an effort to get there.

The Bombers chartered two planes to fly their players to the northeast Victorian city on Saturday afternoon, but torrential rains that have soaked the region made it impossible to land.

The Saints had travelled a day earlier by bus and Essendon coach James Hird conceded on Sunday that St Kilda deserved full points, given they were at the ground and the Bombers were not.

The AFL had initially announced the points would be shared, under a rule governing matches abandoned for reasons beyond the clubs’ control.

But, after further consideration, they announced on Sunday that the Saints would be declared the winners as Essendon could have done more.

“The AFL noted that extreme weather conditions meant that Essendon was unable to reach Wangaratta by air for the match,” the league said in a statement.

“However, it also resolved that alternate travel arrangements were available to the club and therefore Essendon’s inability to attend the match was ultimately within its control.”

The decision keeps the Saints in contention for the pre-season grand final, with two wins from three matches.

The Bombers are without a win.