AFL clubs get green light for practice matches for unselected players, could play as curtain-raisers to senior matches

Curtain-raisers are set to return at AFL matches after the league gave clubs approval to arrange practice games for players who miss selection. And Collingwood has already held talks with rival clubs.

The Western Bulldogs had planned a practice match with Carlton for players who missed senior selection — before the AFL shutdown. Picture: Getty Images

Collingwood has had preliminary talks with Richmond, St Kilda, GWS Giants and Essendon about the potential for non-selected players to participate in match simulation sessions.

AFL clubs on Wednesday were granted permission to organise informal practice matches for players overlooked for senior selection, in line with the fixture from Rounds 2-5.

And those games can be played as AFL curtain-raisers.

Clubs had been discussing fixtures that would allow depth players to get valuable match practice in what will effectively be glorified match simulation.

The Magpies canvassed some options with Richmond recently ahead of next Thursday night’s long-awaited season resumption but nothing was set in stone.

Applications for match simulation must be submitted to the AFL at least one week before the scheduled date of the session.

The sessions must be held at AFL-approved and neutral venues, effectively ruling out Punt Road and Olympic Park for Richmond and Collingwood respectively, although it won’t televised given their informal nature.

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Collingwood has approached Richmond about playing a practice game ahead of next week’s season return. Picture: Getty Images

The simulation will also be restricted to teams within the same state and will be closed to the public.

Both teams involved in the hitout can determine the duration and number of players to take part in those sessions.

AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking said the sessions would help clubs ensure non-selected players were “game-ready” in the absence of state-league football.

“This arrangement ensures we continue to support the health, wellbeing and motivation of non-selected players and allows clubs with the ability to provide non-selected players with match practice to ensure they are game-ready if required,” Hocking said.

“It also provides clubs with flexibility to determine individual requirements while maintaining the health protocols in place for our game.”

The 10 Victorian clubs will have greater scope to arrange sessions, while Queensland teams Brisbane and Gold Coast can play isolation hub-based West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide.

But Sydney clubs the Swans and Giants will be restricted to playing each other.

Players would likely need pre-game coronavirus tests to take part, with 5000 COVID-19 tests already negative from AFL players and staff.

The Western Bulldogs had planned a practice match with Carlton for players who missed senior selection — before the AFL shutdown. Picture: Getty Images

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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley told the Herald Sun last month organised contests were critical for players to give them a purpose if not selected in the AFL as well as for the love of the game.

The Western Bulldogs and Carlton had organised a 14-a-side VFL scrimmage to be played over Round 1 but it was cancelled when it was clear the league would take a season hiatus.

Balme’s Tigers have only Bachar Houli (calf) and youngster Noah Cumberland (ACL) injured so would have a full

“The suggestion is that something like that can happen, that we can have a training run with other clubs but we can’t play at our training venues, we need to play somewhere else,” he said.

“We are highly likely to be able to stage some kind of practice match. Potentially you could hook up with four teams and do something. Some teams might have 15 available and some might only have eight. But we are all saying our kids need somewhere to play, whether it’s Round 2 or afterwards we don’t know.”

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HOW TRIBUNAL WILL COPE WITH COVID RESTRICTIONS

—LAUREN WOOD

Trial by video will be the new norm for AFL players with the tribunal set to comply with strict social distancing measures in coming weeks.

And players will also save significantly on fines.

Due to government restrictions, AFL tribunal hearings – which are normally held at Marvel Stadium – will be held remotely via video link for at least the first five rounds of competition.

All parties, including the tribunal panel members and chairman, will be remote for hearings.

The match review system, which is headed up by match review officer Michael Christian, will also continue to be conducted remotely with penalties from each game announced within 24 hours of each match.

But financial penalties will be halved for the remainder of the season.

With players set to have their pay cut by 50 per cent from today until October – which has been brought forward from the initial date of June 11, and if the season is played as planned – all hip pocket sanctions under the match review jurisdiction have been halved.

The change — which was communicated by the AFL Players’ Association to player managers — was deemed to be in line given the hefty remuneration cuts across the industry.

Low-level classifiable offences attract a fine of $3000, or $2000 with an early guilty plea, while fines of as much as $8000 – $5000 with an early guilty plea – can be dished out by Christian for a third or subsequent offence.

Round 1 saw $7000 worth of fines issued, with $250,000 of fines collected each year mandated to go towards concussion research.

Originally published as AFL clubs get green light for practice matches for unselected players, could play as curtain-raisers to senior matches