VFL v LOCAL CLUB FINALS
ST JOSEPH’S will be without Ben Moloney and Callum Mitchell for GFL finals as will Colac be without Sam McLachlan if the trio finish the season in the VFL.
The three VFL-listed players are close to their 12-game quota in the VFL — 13 or more games rules them ineligible to play finals under AFL Barwon rules.
McLachlan (11), Moloney (10) and Mitchell (10) have made themselves mainstays in Geelong’s VFL side, and coach Shane O’Bree said it was unlikely they would be released despite the Cats being out of finals contention.
“Our boys at the start of the year commit to our program to be VFL players first,” O’Bree said. “They might be able to see their game quota is close to being over so they can’t qualify for finals, but at the end of the day the VFL comes first and if they miss out on an opportunity to play local finals, that’s part and parcel of being a VFL player.”
Sam Dobson will be fine to play for St Mary’s, however, having played eight VFL games this season with four rounds to go, while Jai Thompson (Leopold) has only played five matches and Campbell Floyd (Colac) four.
Meanwhile, Hampden Football League club Koroit can welcome back James Gow for finals, as competition laws there allow VFL players to return to their home club.
O’Bree said clubs and players would ask about finals eligibility.
“You do (get questions from GFL clubs), you get questions from players as well,” he said.
“That’s the whole system. If you want to be a VFL player, that’s your No.1 priority.”
Injured Geelong co-captain Tom Atkins would need to play three matches for St Joseph’s before season’s end to qualify for GFL finals.