TOUGH COVID STANCE TO STAY

McLACHLAN MAKES NO APOLOGIES FOR COMPETITION’S HARD-LINE VIRUS RULES

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the league’s hard-line Covid rules will not be relaxed even for finals if a team is wiped out and unable to field a competitive side.

Amid criticism of the league’s playon policy McLachlan said on Friday if the league had a more forgiving policy West Coast might not have played any of its first three rounds.

The league has told clubs they will play if they can field a side of 23 players made up of 44 listed players and 20 top-ups.

McLachlan made no apologies for that stance and said it would apply even through to September’s finals.

“It has certainly not been discussed to have anything differently,” he said of the rule’s application through finals.

“I do feel everyone is going to have their turn. Our supporters understand the rules are really clear. Once you start deciding how bad is bad rather than an objective measure like this feels too bad or they are missing their entire midfield, the risk for inconsistency is significant and has greater problems.

“You don’t know when you are going to get back onto the field.

“You could make a case West Coast has been impacted significantly for three weeks. We know everyone will have their turn where they feel it’s a tough burden, but I was pretty proud and amazed.

“West Coast did an amazing job last week.”

In a wide-ranging interview on 3AW, McLachlan (pictured) said former Essendon coach James Hird was welcome to be a senior coach again despite his 12-month ban for the Dons’ drugs saga. Former coach Ross Lyon had suggested the league might bar him given he was at the club in an episode that saw 34 players banned for a full season by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“James is a legend of the game, I have been really clear to welcome him back and it’s great to see him back involved in a club up in NSW,” McLachlan said.

“I think everyone has accountabilities and then people are welcomed back, it’s the story and history of our game.”

McLachlan also said he had heard reports that patrons involved in last Saturday’s evacuation over a false alarm at the MCG had tried to exit but been prevented because of a locked gate.

“Our integrity team is involved in the review, I have heard that but don’t know for sure there was an issue with one of the gates.

“We are certainly part of (the review).

“I don’t know that it’s definitive but at face value it’s concerning.”