AFL: Carlton coach Michael Voss ‘didn’t like’ Covid-ravaged West Coast having to play last week

AFL coaches were uncomfortable with West Coast having to play five top-up players to field a team against North Melbourne.

West Coast fell to 0-2 last week after having to turn to five top-up players to field a team against North Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL’s decision to force Covid-ravaged West Coast to play last week did not sit well with Carlton coach Michael Voss.

The Eagles turned to five top-up players and made 14 changes from their round 1 team after the virus swept through the club, on top of an already backbreaking injury list.

League headquarters created the contingency player list with these types of situations in mind, with chief executive Gillon McLachlan making it clear they did not want to postpone games this year.

Voss and the Blues experienced a smaller dose of coronavirus drama when he, assistant Tim Clarke, football boss Brad Lloyd and players Adam Cerra and Jack Martin were unavailable last week.

He felt West Coast’s situation tipped the competitive balance “too far” towards North Melbourne, which ended up winning by 15 points, but that it was now the “standard” for the rest of the season.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson (right) speaks with Stefan Giro, one of the five top-up players the Eagles selected on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“I didn’t like it, I must admit,” Voss said.

“I sort of felt like there was maybe a different way we’ve got. I know that’s the only way that we’ve got right now, but that just felt like it was too much and too far a disadvantage for one team.

“I really admire West Coast in their response – they just got on with it. But, I think if we really sort of look at it with a clean set of eyes, that didn’t feel right.”

Melbourne premiership coach Simon Goodwin was equally uneasy with the circumstances, wondering whether the AFL’s Covid top-up response was “the best thing for the game”.

“I feel for Adam Simpson right now. For any coach to be sitting in this position where you’ve lost 14 players in a week is very tough,” Goodwin said.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin questions whether the AFL’s Covid-19 plan is what’s best for the game. Picture: Getty Images

“It was put on the agenda by the AFL at the start of the season that this is what the situation would look like (but) when it happens to you, it’s really hard to imagine how you’d deal with it and what’s best for the game.

“Whether we’ve got it right as an industry, I’m not sure. But we know what’s in front of us.

“Every club is going to have to deal with it at some level, so it’s back on the clubs to try and mitigate risk as much as possible.”

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick revealed on Monday night he even discussed at club level a scenario where the Tigers could loan players to the Eagles.

That is not a current option in the AFL rules and Voss said while they were “great thoughts” he wouldn’t concern himself with something that could not be introduced until at least next season.

Originally published as AFL: Carlton coach Michael Voss ‘didn’t like’ Covid-ravaged West Coast having to play last week