AFL’s tough 23-player stance to get games away/ Tigers linked to Dandy Stingrays

[one-eyed]

The AFL is likely to compel clubs to play with fewer than 23 available players, using top-up players from the state leagues, if teams are again stricken with high numbers of COVID-19 cases during the season.

If, for example, a club had 10 injuries and then another 11 players unable to play due to COVID cases – reducing its list from 44 to 23 in a given week – the AFL’s view is that the game would go ahead and, indeed, that the game would likely be played if the club had at least 21 or 22 players.

While the league is planning contingencies for outbreaks during the upcoming season, several clubs have expressed optimism that top-ups are unlikely to be needed, given that they have 43 or 44 players, counting rookies.

The AFL is considering that clubs use their VFL, SANFL or WAFL listed players – who are not currently on the senior list – as prospective top-up players in the event of COVID outbreaks. It is also possible that the clubs draw from a centralised pool of state league footballers, which would allow them to select players to fill specific holes, such as a ruckman.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/fewer-than-23-and-they-play-afl-s-tough-stance-to-get-games-away-20220207-p59ucn.html

[WilliamPowell]

Surely the easiest thing is get Clubs to use their VFL, SANFL or WAFL listed players

So in Richmond’s case we use our VFL listed players?

I'm not sure why the AFL are making yhis out to be such a huge issue

Oh wait, I've answered my own question

[one-eyed]

We're going to be linked with our VFL side and the Dandenong Stingrays for our top ups.

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WHERE WOULD THEY GET THE REPLACEMENTS FROM?

The state leagues were already frustrated when their sides were raided via the mid-season draft, but 2022 could be a more extreme version of that.

Nine reported Victorian teams would be tied to a VFL team, and then to a NAB League (under-19s) side below that, keeping each competition going under one plan which dates back to the height of the pandemic in 2020.

The logical outcome could see AFL clubs able to pick players from their own VFL (or other state league) sides if they have them.

In Victoria, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Geelong, Hawthorn (Box Hill), Melbourne (Casey), North Melbourne, Richmond, St Kilda (Sandringham) and the Western Bulldogs (Footscray) all have established VFL links.

The Nine report stated the Victorian clubs would then be linked with NAB League sides, most based on geography: Carlton with the Northern Knights, Collingwood with the Oakleigh Chargers, Essendon with the Calder Cannons, Geelong with the Geelong Falcons, Hawthorn with Eastern Ranges, Melbourne with Gippsland Power, North Melbourne with the Murray Bushrangers, Richmond with the Dandenong Stingrays, St Kilda with the Sandringham Dragons, and the Western Bulldogs with North Ballarat.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2022-replacement-players-afl-links-to-vfl-and-state-league-teams-winners-and-losers-from-topup-plans-news/news-story/dcdc7c133d487f4cb2afb117214d6acc

[Jonesracing82]

Surely the easiest thing is get Clubs to use their VFL, SANFL or WAFL listed players

So in Richmond’s case we use our VFL listed players?

I'm not sure why the AFL are making yhis out to be such a huge issue

Oh wait, I've answered my own question

This right here, case closed