FINALS football it’s said is different from the home and away season and it’s especially the case in the Peter Jackson VFL.
Certainly the landscape is much different, particularly for all the aligned VFL clubs who don’t have carte blanch access to AFL listed players during the final series.
Unlike the home and away season, VFL clubs simply can’t call upon players who are not playing in the AFL.
There’s a set of clearly defined rules that spells out the eligibility of AFL players, especially in the last three weeks of the finals.
With all AFL clubs still involved in the home and away season in the opening week of the VFL finals, VFL clubs can still access players who are not selected in the AFL.
But once the AFL home and away season finishes that access is restricted.
If an AFL club is involved in the AFL finals and its VFL aligned is also in the VFL finals then players not selected in the AFL team can play with its VFL affiliate.
If an AFL club is not playing finals then eligibility is governed under the following rules:
- Players who have not played at least one AFL or VFL senior or AFL Victoria Development League match in the 2012 season are ineligible to play in the VFL senior finals.
- Players who have played with the AFL Senior team of any AFL Club after July 1 of this season are ineligible to play in the VFL senior or AFL Victoria Development League Finals unless they have played a total of at least six senior VFL or AFL Victoria Development League matches in the same season.
Sometimes an AFL player who may be qualified to play for its VFL affiliate may be shut down by the AFL club or sent for end of season surgery.
But, mostly AFL clubs are happy for their young players, some in the first or second season on an AFL list, to experience the increased intensity of VFL finals.
All aligned clubs have at least double digit AFL listed players available.
With North Melbourne guaranteed of playing at least one finals game, its VFL affiliate will have access to those players not selected by the Kangaroos.
If North Melbourne’s season does not extend past the first week and Werribee’s season is still alive then they could have access to several key players.
Former AFL top 10 Draft selection Lachlan Hansen has qualified to play with Werribee as has former Box Hill Hawks captain Sam Gibson. Both Hansen and Gibson have been key contributors to North Melbourne’s second half season resurgence.
Werribee is not alone in possibly securing quality AFL players in their quest for the VFL flag.
Geelong, riding the back of a competition and club record nine game winning streak, have at least 20 players eligible.
Included is Cats premiership player Travis Varcoe who resumed from injury in Geelong’s VFL team against Coburg Tigers last week.
Another Geelong player on the comeback is Nathan Vardy who has played the past two games in the VFL.
Triple North Ballarat premiership player and Norm Goss medallist Orren Stephenson is also eligible to play with Geelong as is exciting youngsters Jordan Murdoch, Josh Walker and Jonathon Simpkin.
Add to Geelong’s impressive list former Brisbane player Troy Selwood, ex Werribee captain Dom Gleeson, proven defender Andrew McLean and a host of other strong VFL listed players and the VFL Cats are well placed for a shot at its third VFL premiership.
Casey Scorpions’ premiership bid has been hurt by season-ending injuries to a host of Melbourne players – Ricky Petterd, Cale Morton and Jamie Bennell, who were all qualified to play finals – while rookie Kelvin Lawrence has left the Demons.
Hawthorn premiership players Chance Bateman and Stephen Gilham are among the eligible AFL Hawks who can play with Box Hill Hawks throughout its finals campaign.
Bendigo have the services of Scott Gumbleton, Kyle Reimers and Mark McVeigh.
Sandringham has 20 St Kilda listed or rookie players available including veteran Jason Blake, Farren Ray, Dean Polo, Terry Milera and Beau Wilkes.
Williamstown will have available a number of players – Michael Talia, Zephaniah Skinner, Fletcher Roberts and Ling Jong who have played with Western Bulldogs in recent weeks.
Most of the Bulldogs available players, including Patrick Veszpremi, Tom Campbell, Justin Sherman and Andrew Hooper, have played AFL this season.
Port Melbourne is the only stand-alone VFL club in the finals. It doesn’t have any AFL listed players to call upon, but that hasn’t been an issue in the past for the Borough as it embarks on its back-to-back premiership campaign.
Here is a list of the eligible AFL listed/rookie players for all competing finals clubs:
BENDIGO
Essendon players eligible: Brendon Lee, Mark Baguley, Henry Slattery, Elliot Kavanagh, Cory Dell’Olio, Kyle Reimers, Alex Browne, Scott Gumbleton, Hal Hunter, Nick O’Brien, Brent Prismall, Michael Ross, Luke Davis, Mark McVeigh, Antony Long, Travis Colyer, Lachlan Dalgleish, Jackson Merrett, Brent Prismall.
BOX HILL HAWKS
Hawthorn players eligible: Tom Murphy, Brad Hill, Kyle Cheney, Stephen Gilham, Tom Schneider, Jordan Kelly, Angus Litherland, Adam Pattison, Derick Wanganeen, Taylor Duryea, Amos Frank, Mitch Hallahan, Broc McCauley, Chance Bateman, Jarrad Boumann, Sam Grimley
CASEY SCORPIONS
Melbourne players eligible: Tom Couch, Jordan Gysberts, Jake Spencer, Troy Davis, Jai Sheahan, Lucas Cook, Leigh Williams, Josh Tynan, Jack Fitzpatrick. (Sam Blease and Luke Tapscott both need to play 1 more game to be eligible)
GEELONG
Geelong players eligible: Jordan Murdoch, Orren Stephenson, Jackson Sheringham, Joshua Walker, Jonathon Simpkin, Nathan Vardy, Mark Blicavs, Shannon Byrnes, Tom Gillies, George Horlin-Smith, Joel Hamlin, Shane Kersten, Lincoln McCarthy, Ryan Bathie, Jed Bews, Simon Hogan, Jordan Schroder, Cam Eardley, George Burbury, Jesse Stringer, Travis Varcoe, Mitch Brown
SANDRINGHAM
St Kilda players eligible: Tom Ledger, Sam Dunell, Farren Ray, Dean Polo, Beau Wilkes, Jamie Cripps, Arryn Siposs, Daniel Archer, Tom Curren, Jackson Ferguson, Cam Shenton, Daniel Markworth, Brett Peake, Nick Winmar, Warrick Andreoli, Raph Clarke, Jack Newnes, Terry Milera, Jason Blake, Sam Crocker, Jordan Staley, Seb Ross.
WERRIBEE
North Melbourne players eligible: Ayden Kennedy, Ben Speight, Malcolm Lynch, Cam Pederson, Will Sierakowski, Majak Daw, Levi Greenwood, Lachlan Hansen, Sam Gibson, Brad Mangan, Ben Warren, Ben McKinley.
WILLIAMSTOWN
Western Bulldogs players eligible:
Fletcher Roberts, Michael Talia, Zephaniah Skinner, Jason Johannison, Tom Campbell, Justin Sherman, Daniel Pearce, Patrick Veszpremi, Jason Tutt, Andrew Hooper, Tom Hill, Brodie Moles, Alex Greenwood, Matthew Panos, Lin Jong, Jack Redpath, James Mulligan. (Liam Jones needs to play 1 more game to be eligible)
Last Modified on 27/08/2012 00:32