Transfer turmoil feared

Lynch says players OK to move but must return

TWO-TIME Geelong Football League premiership coach Paul Lynch has called on AFL Victoria to change contract laws or close the transfer window to stop players walking out on clubs.

As leagues across the state weigh up whether to play on or follow the lead of the Geelong, Hampden, Eastern and Northern football leagues in abandoning the 2020 season amid the coronavirus pandemic, Lynch declared the governing body needed to act fast to prevent a free-for-all.

With the transfer window open, players without a premiership season in 2020 can move to rival leagues that are yet to pull the pin.

While he would not stand in the way of a player eager to move, Lynch, who is director of coaching at Leopold, insisted provisions must be put in place by AFL Victoria to ensure players returned next year to the club they intended to play at before the pandemic.

AFL Victoria is working behind the scenes to establish a COVID-19 transfer structure that will allow players to temporarily move leagues this season and return to their original clubs for 2021.

Lynch said the proposal must be introduced to maintain the integrity of local footy.

“I’m not convinced there will be many leagues start up, and by the end of it I don’t think there will be many leagues standing,” he said.

“Once those big metro leagues (stop), I think all those other comps will follow suit. But if it did happen, something has to be put in place (to protect the clubs).

“’Yes, you can go and play up there, but you are contracted to play here next year’. It has to be something along those lines. It’s a grey area.

“You don’t want to stop them playing sport, but you wouldn’t want to lose them to another club. That subject has been talked about for months . . . what happens if our league (stops) and another 15 leagues keep going?

“There will be plenty of blokes sorting themselves out ... (Tom) Ruggles, Marcus Thompson, Jai Thompson and big ‘Westy’ (Trent West). I reckon a few clubs will be looking for a genuine ruckman.

“If you make clearances open slather, you could lose half a side.

“It’s a difficult time because no one has a formula to work off and they are making decisions as they go and that’s all they can do, rightly or wrongly.”