DANGER: FRINGE CATS FACE CONTRACT BATTLE

Warning players face a battle to earn contracts without the VFL

OUT-OF-CONTRACT Cats on the fringe of senior selection would face an uphill battle in their fight for a new deal this year without the chance to play in the VFL, Geelong vice-captain Patrick Dangerfield warned yesterday.

He said he felt for his teammates not able to press their claims in the reserves this year after the AFL announced that no listed players would take part in second-tier competitions in 2020.

The league is working on creating scratch matches for players who miss selection to stay match-fit, but those matches appear likely to be played in a different format with fewer numbers on field.

Dangerfield said he didn’t want to see extended benches in the AFL to allow for more players to be in shape, but said it was a difficult prospect for those on the fringes.

Players such as Sam Simpson, James Parsons and Oscar Brownless are out of contract at the end of this season and may miss a chance to press for a new deal if not selected for the senior side. With list sizes potentially reduced in 2021, even more doubts will be cast on those out of the senior side.

Others out of contract who would have pressed for a spot in the AFL side by playing in the reserves include Jacob Kennerley, Jake Tarca and Ben Jarvis.

“This is going to be really tough for those players who aren’t playing every week and there are going to be hundreds throughout the competition,” Dangerfield said on SEN.

“It makes it really difficult for those that aren’t in the team to push their case and those players who are out of contract and working hard to earn a new one.”

As Geelong faces a dramatic reduction in staff in its football department, Dangerfield said those who would be without jobs needed to be told as soon as possible.

The AFL has announced that football department staff at all clubs will be reduced to a maximum of 25.

About 80 per cent of all staff within clubs have been stood down since the game was shut down in late March.

Among the 25 staff in football departments, clubs must have at least one doctor, psychologist and player development manager.

“Clearly the league has got a huge amount of work ahead of them with everything that is going on but we do need to give our people time to look at what’s next if there isn’t an opportunity to return to football departments around the country,” Dangerfield said.

“You just really feel to be honest for the people that aren’t going to be here … that are wonderful people and as committed as the players to the greater good of winning and performing and they are so incredibly invested in what we do as players. It’s just the human element (of the cuts) that sucks to be honest.”

A reduction in playing lists remains on the agenda as the AFL looks to cut further costs.