Jack’s plea to draft in players

JACK Riewoldt says Melbourne clubs would need to call for reinforcements if the AFL introduces a fixture that requires teams to play seven games in five weeks.

The acting Richmond captain said the Tigers had a small squad at the Gold Coast hub and would need extra back-up if playing more than once a week. The AFL will release its Round 8 fixture today with another 11 rounds still to be scheduled.

The league has told clubs it might end up playing Rounds 6-12 in 32 days while all 10 Melbourne clubs remain in hubs. It could test the depth of clubs who have taken between 28-33 players on the road.

It is a fast-paced schedule that has never been imposed at AFL level.

Five-day breaks were once considered too arduous.

Richmond is considering making an application for some of its leftover players to fly north to Queensland.

If they were allowed across the border, the players would have to be quarantined separately from their teammates for up to 14 days before mixing with the initial squad.

Riewoldt is open to staying for six weeks in Queensland if clubs can get their families up north.

“There is obviously a lot of water to go under the bridge and in principle we would be OK with playing games off four or five-day breaks,” he told his Balls and Bumpers podcast. “Maybe after three in a row you might start to look for the end of the tunnel.

“I think there are a few complexities to [playing off short breaks]. By AFL request we are asked to bring a smaller list up here, because more people on the ground is more cost.

“Trying to do the right thing by that, we have left some players back in Melbourne and two of those players are Shane Edwards and Bachar Houli. We would have to ask the question about getting guys up here.”