AFL planning for ‘the replacements’ from VFL and other state leagues

[bornadog]

link

The AFL will have a contingency plan to bring in “top-up” players from the state leagues to ensure clubs can field teams in the event of excessive COVID cases.

The AFL will be encouraging clubs to consider top-up options – such as from their VFL or WAFL and SANFL teams – in preparation for a COVID outbreak that would otherwise mean they wouldn’t have the numbers to field a team.

AFL sources said the AFL would have a top-up player plan or policy in place before the start of the 2022 season, and that clubs should begin identifying players who could be brought in as “train-ons” who could be eligible to play at AFL level in the event of COVID cases.

Using clubs’ own state league – or affiliate club – players as top-ups for COVID represents the easiest option for the clubs and competition, given all the difficulties involved. The prevailing view is that it is probably not feasible for all 18 clubs, or most of them, to be drafting in several players per club at the same time.

Senior AFL figures have a strong view that the games must be played and completed, even if clubs have compromised playing lists due to COVID cases, and they plan only to postpone games when clubs are severely depleted – the situation for some teams, such as the Western Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney, in the AFLW.

The AFL has not worked out the details of a top-up player pool, such as the amount players could be paid, their contract terms and impact on the salary cap. But the men’s competition is probably less vulnerable given that its playing lists of 42-44 (for 23 players, counting the medical substitute) offer more of a buffer than the 30 (plus five train-ons) for the AFLW.

The potential for teams to lose a sizeable number of players to the virus – and thus struggle to field a team – has been underscored in the AFLW competition, and the massive number, estimated at close to half of 800 AFL players, barring the Perth teams, who have had COVID-19 during the December-January break.

Some clubs have had a clear majority of their players test positive. Under the current regulations, those players would be unavailable for at least seven days, though in some cases, players might not recover sufficient fitness for longer than seven days.

The AFL, meanwhile, is optimistic that it can find a way to get West Coast and Fremantle to play games with minimal disruption should the WA border remain closed and subject to a 14-day quarantine for those who return.

The most drastic possibility would be to move Fremantle and West Coast to Melbourne, but the league has been in dialogue with the WA government and is hoping to find another way. In the past two seasons, teams travelling in and out of WA have been subject to stringent conditions and testing.

[Axe Man]

This seems like a much more sensible solution than the central pool idea to me. We can start preparing a few players from Footscray now to bring in if required.

[GVGjr]

This seems like a much more sensible solution than the central pool idea to me. We can start preparing a few players from Footscray now to bring in if required.

Have to agree, as a club we can start identifying and working with some of the more deserving players now.

Bevo's focus on versatility in the playing group will help us if we lose a few with covid.

[Axe Man]

AFL clubs will be able to access top-up players to play senior games if their lists drop below 28 players due to Covid and injury issues.

The league finalised its top-up contingency plans on Tuesday, with clubs to be linked with state-league sides to ensure the season will go on without delay.

As revealed by the Herald Sun, all clubs will have top-up lists of 20 with the AFL making it clear there will be no delays in the season even if a team is ravaged by Covid.

Clubs have current lists of 44 senior and rookie-listed players and if there are only 30 to choose from because of Covid and injuries they can access top-up players to help with training only.

If clubs have only 28 to choose from they can select players from their top-up lists to play AFL games.

The league has stated in its rules the “club must prioritise the selection of AFL-listed players where reasonable”.

It means the league will encourage teams to play every player on their list, but it leaves open the possibility a club could choose a ruckman from their top-up list ahead of listed players if it has no more rucks or players in a specialised position to choose from.

Victorian clubs will be linked to their VFL sides and choose from about 30 players to finalise top-up lists of 20 by Friday, March 11.

Brisbane is linked to VFL sides Coburg and Port Melbourne, GWS has Frankston and Williamstown, Gold Coast has Southport and Sydney has Werribee and the Northern Bullants.

Gold Coast can choose four Southport top-ups but Brisbane, GWS and Gold Coast can only choose two top-ups from each of their VFL sides in any week to ensure those sides can still compete in the VFL.

The league stated: “The AFL has already told all clubs that it intends to play the fixture as scheduled this year and that the competition will continue to play on as we continue to learn to live with Covid-19”.

Adelaide and Port Adelaide can choose four players from their own state league lists and then a maximum of four players from each of the SANFL clubs they are aligned to in selecting their next generation academy recruits.

West Coast and Fremantle are expected to follow a similar path, but the league is still finalising those rules.

AFL football boss Brad Scott said if clubs dropped below 30 available players only through injury and not Covid, they could not use the top-ups.

“Over the last two seasons the AFL has put measures in place to best protect the competition, our clubs, players and umpires. While the ongoing pandemic will continue to challenge us, we remain committed to completing the season for supporters in a way that prioritises the health and safety of the wider community,” Mr Scott said.

“In a national sport, played across many states and territories, we need to be able to adapt, and adapt quickly to the Covid-19 conditions at any one time at locations where home teams are based, or away teams are travelling to. These guidelines help us achieve that while providing potential opportunities for talented players plying their craft in state league competitions to play football at the elite level.”

Link

[bornadog]

If you use a top up player and then they are not used before mid season draft, another club can draft them.

Will be interesting if this happens.

Last night Ameet was saying of the 30 women in our team only 11 were available at one stage.

So if the players get Covid, could effect quite a few. Fingers crossed on this one. will make the season interesting

[Axe Man]

If you use a top up player and then they are not used before mid season draft, another club can draft them.

Will be interesting if this happens.

Last night Ameet was saying of the 30 women in our team only 11 were available at one stage.

So if the players get Covid, could effect quite a few. Fingers crossed on this one. will make the season interesting

From further down in the above link:

Nearly 80 per cent of AFL men’s players have already contracted Covid this year as the league expresses confidence Omicron will not make a dent in the coming season.

Players can obviously catch it again but I would think it is less likely that it sweeps through large numbers of previously infected players at the same time. The danger will be if there is a wave of a new variant I guess.

WA teams will be very nervous as most of them wouldn't have had it yet.

[GVGjr]

Did I hear that the COVID top up players needed to be finalised today?

[bornadog]

Did I hear that the COVID top up players needed to be finalised today?

Yes they do

[GVGjr]

Yes they do

I wonder why we wouldn't have announced them. I guess it's just the Footscray boys. I wouldn't have minded one or two with AFL experience.

[azabob]

I wonder why we wouldn't have announced them. I guess it's just the Footscray boys. I wouldn't have minded one or two with AFL experience.

I agree with you; but it doesn't surprise me we haven't nominated any players of note. Melbourne on the flip side have been quite active with signing Luke Dunston last year, adding Sam Reid and were very close to nominating Reece Conca.

[soupman]

Do we have anything resembling a ruck prospect on our footscray list? Is JGM still around?

I mean if they're no good Beveridge will just do something funky anyway but it wouldn't be the worst to have someone there to provide a backup should English and Sweet go down at the same time (Martin is guaranteed to be unavailable for half the season).

[GVGjr]

Do we have anything resembling a ruck prospect on our footscray list? Is JGM still around?

I mean if they're no good Beveridge will just do something funky anyway but it wouldn't be the worst to have someone there to provide a backup should English and Sweet go down at the same time (Martin is guaranteed to be unavailable for half the season).

JGM has moved back to Carlton hasn't he?
We have a couple of talls around 197cm that can fill in.

[GVGjr]

I agree with you; but it doesn't surprise me we haven't nominated any players of note. Melbourne on the flip side have been quite active with signing Luke Dunston last year, adding Sam Reid and were very close to nominating Reece Conca.

I guess we will find out in time but other clubs 'seem' to be more active in bringing back players with previous senior experience onto the top up list.