Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel believes clubs like Sydney should be able to draft top-up players when they are left with an empty spot in their list due to retirements or injuries.
Following Kurt Tippett's retirement on Monday, the Swans are now effectively down a man all season long, in a position that wasn't their strongest in 2017.
The Swans now join the Hawks and Tigers in losing players following last season's final list lodgement date, after Ty Vickery retired in November, with Ben Griffiths giving up his final season with the Tigers to pursue a college scholarship in the US as a punter.
Bartel says teams should be given the chance to replace players on their list who won't play a game that season.
"Part of the art of list management is building a list that foresees a player going down. You don't want to reward sides for almost being deliberately short in one area with the potential to make up for it," Bartel told Fairfax Media.
"But, on the counter, because pre-season is so long and taxing and we see almost every year someone go down with an ACL or a serious injury in the pre-season because it is so quick and the grounds are so hard, it wouldn't be bad (if) at the end of January you have the opportunity to replace someone on your list.
"I don't know whether you should have to delist someone or clubs are allowed to add one more if they have that space open ... whether every club has 42 and they are allowed to go to 43 or you just keep it at 42."
A recent change by the AFL has made it easier for teams to deal with these surprise announcements, with Category A rookies now eligible to play from round one without having to be upgraded onto the senior list.
Sydney football manager Tom Harley spoke to SEN on Tuesday about Tippett's retirement, and said the AFL's move to make it easier for rookies to play has "softened the blow" of the forward's loss.
"There was the uncertainty last year. Kurt's had a pretty significant ankle injury, he was going through his rehab and wanted to give himself and us the best chance to get back and play," Harley said.
"The fact the rookies can play now softens the blow a bit but the reality is we're a player down for the season.
"That's just the reality of it. With regards to salary cap and contracts, I understand it's topical for everyone, and they are discussions I have with Kurt and his manager to ensure it's the best outcome for both parties."
Tippett makes the call after 178 AFL games, and only featured nine times for Sydney last season, before having ankle surgery in the off-season.
