Not saying that technically it couldn't happen, but it would be totally inappropriate for anyone other than Pfeiffer and maybe (at a stretch) Meesen to be asked to play 2s for a bottom side this week.Squawk wrote:... This week I can think of 4 Norwood players who could realistically be expected to trot out in another reserves team this week
Minson (Pahrr), Meeson (Crows), Cockshell (Power) and Pfeiffer (Crows) could have all been (or may be)asked to play ressies this week for form/fitness reasons. ...
Playing reserves in your team's bye, should only be an option for players who are returning from injury (or who have started to return but still haven't reached full fitness), plus perhaps those who have just been dropped from the AFL side (and are some chance of returning for the following match). It shouldn't even be considered where the player is fully fit but just isn't earning a spot in the seniors (Minson) or is consistently playing league (Cockshell). For anyone in those positions to be shanghaied into an enemy seconds side, would make the comp look like a joke. The Pahhhhr can organise an internal scratch match, if they want the likes of Minson and Cockshell to play a match this weekend.
You're right, though-- far more problematic is the question of which players the AFL clubs release when they have a bye. No-one expects to see Andrew McLeod or Roo running around for Port or West; but there's a decent argument that fewer than 22 players should have the week off-- 'marginal' players like (for the Clones) Porplyzia, Douglas, Vince, Massie, Jericho and McGregor should all have a hit-out to continue to press their case to earn or cement a place, even though some of them would have been playing AFL if there were a game.
