Clubs set to pick from lengthy player list for COVID top-ups

All 18 clubs will have the ability to register up to 20 players on top of their primary and rookie lists for the 2022 season as part of the league’s COVID contingency plan.

With list numbers predicted to be heavily compromised given the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 virus on top of more common ailments and injuries, the AFL has looked to aid the planning for sides ahead of the new season through proactive and flexible measures.

Clubs will have access to players that are currently aligned with the state league and second tier playing lists, Next Generation and Northern Academy players aged 19 years old or players listed on designated standalone state leagues.

The AFL has stated that should a club’s available list size fall below 30, they will be permitted to activate a player from their COVID contingency list to be available for training. Should that number drop below 28, elected players will be permitted to play in an AFL match, with all AFL listed players still remaining as a priority for selection. 

The league has also stated that clubs won’t be allowed to activate a COVID contingency player should their playing list drop below 30 while not having dealt with players being forced into COVID health and safety protocols.

The AFL has detailed how clubs will gain access to non-aligned or standalone state league players in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia: 

South Australia – Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide

• Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide will have capacity to list players from each of their NGA-aligned SANFL standalone State League Clubs on the following basis: 
  • Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide must list a minimum of four (4) players from their own State League list 
  • Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide may list a maximum of four (4) players from each of its four NGA aligned SANFL Clubs as part of their COVID Contingency List 
• Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide may not activate – for training and selection – more than two (2) players from each NGA-aligned SANFL Club at any point in time unless more than 12 COVID Contingency Players are required to ensure they can field a team for an AFL match.  

New South Wales and Queensland – Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS, Sydney Swans

• The NSW and Queensland AFL Clubs will have the capacity to list players from VFL Standalone State League Clubs (Standalone VFL Clubs), through a process of alignment which seeks to balance: 
  • Providing opportunity for VFL Club players to access COVID Contingency List spots and; 
  • Minimising, where possible and reasonable, unnecessary disruption to standalone players and Clubs 
• This also recognises that while NSW and QLD AFL Clubs have VFL teams, these may not have the same depth of talent as the Victorian AFL Clubs. In order to achieve this balance, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast SUNS, GWS GIANTS and Sydney Swans will have the capacity to list up to a maximum of eight (8) players from a designated Standalone VFL Club/s

• Standalone VFL Club to AFL Club designations are as follows:

• A maximum of two (2) players from each Standalone VFL Club may be selected on a given weekend of matches, except for Southport where maximum of four (4) players from Southport may be selected on a given weekend of matches. 
• AFL Clubs should use best endeavours to activate and subsequently select players from their own State League list in priority to players from Standalone State League Clubs. 

Western Australia – Fremantle and the West Coast Eagles

• AFL Clubs and State League Club alignments are still subject to finalisation with the WAFC and WAFL Clubs at the time of publishing. 

AFL clubs will have until 5pm EDST on Friday, March 11 to submit their COVID contingency list.