‘Should be illegal’: AFL erupts over cruel medical substitution farce

The medical substitution rule was introduced by the AFL to resolve an injury crisis, but instead its created a new dilemma for coaches.

Tex Wanganeen and Nathan O'Driscoll.

Calls for a ban on AFL debutants being named as medical substitutions are growing in volume after a couple of young recruits were cruelly robbed of game time in their first professional outing.

The medical substitution rule was introduced ahead of the 2021 season to help clubs cope with injury and concussion, but eyebrows were raised when it was confirmed that the 23rd player would be credited with an official AFL appearance, whether they joined the action or not.

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And the situation took an ugly turn on Saturday when Tex Wanganeen, son of two-time premiership player Gavin Wanganeen, was named as Essendon’s medical substitute for the Round 2 clash against the Brisbane Lions at Marvel Stadium.

The 18-year-old was presented with his first Bombers jumper by his father before the first bounce, but because no Bombers player was forced out of the contest with injury, Wanganeen spent the entirety of his AFL debut on the bench.

Fremantle young gun Nathan O’Driscoll had a similar experience during Sunday afternoon’s clash against St Kilda, named as the Dockers’ 23rd man for his AFL debut.

O’Driscoll was presented with his shirt in front of teammates and family ahead of the Round 2 encounter — his grandmother was brought onto the ground in a wheelchair for the bittersweet occasion — yet the 19-year-old spent the first three quarters watching from the bench.

Last week, St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera was named as the medical substitute for the Round 1 match against Collingwood for his AFL debut, but also failed to see any game time.

7News reporter Ryan Daniels tweeted: “It should be illegal for players to debut as the medical sub.”

Former Essendon player Gavin Wanganeen. Photo by Robert Cianflone/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Debutant Nathan O'Driscoll of the Dockers is presented with his shirt. Photo by Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd vented his frustration on Sunday morning, calling on AFL coaches not to select debutants as medical substitutes.

“I don’t like it,” he told Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show.

“When Gavin Wanganeen’s out there presenting (his jumper) to him, his family fly over – all these arrangements, yet the person doesn’t play one second of football.

“It’s such a special moment. We can all talk about our first moment, our first kick, what the experience was like. Ask him (Wanganeen) and he won’t be able to say anything.

“I think wait until they’re good enough to be in the 22 to give them their first game and that special occasion, rather than have them sit there for the whole game.”

Veteran sports presenter Tony Jones agreed, claiming Saturday’s selection was “almost demeaning for the Wanganeen family”.

Memo AFL:
Debutants shouldn’t be listed as medical subs.
Mandate it. To be a sub you must have played at least one game.

— Mark Stevens (@StevoMedia) March 26, 2022

Debutants as the medical sub is rough. Hopefully the AFL makes a decision to tweak the rule. https://t.co/U9IJzPHr8a

— Justine McCullagh-Beasy (@JustineMB_29) March 27, 2022

Speaking to reporters after Saturday’s defeat, Essendon coach Ben Rutten claimed the medical substitution was “a good indication” of when young players are at in their careers.

“He’s not far away,” Rutten explained.

“With Tex, we really like a lot of things that he brings, we love what we’ve seen throughout pre-season. But he’s also missed a lot of footy over the last couple of years, whether it be Covid, or he’s had some injuries as well.

“We think we’ve got a long-term player in Tex, and we want to make sure that we’re setting him up to succeed. But having said that, he’s getting really close, and we were obviously prepared for him to play.

“We wouldn’t have been unhappy (if he played).”

Essendon will next face reigning premiers Melbourne at the MCG on Friday, with the first bounce scheduled for 7.20pm AEDT.