by SimonH » Fri Sep 12, 2014 3:56 pm
Everything I say below is based on the assumption that the qualification requirements remain 'live' in finals (i.e. finals matches count) and aren't set in stone at the end of the minor round. There's nothing in the wording to suggest that finals should be ignored, but no-one's 100% confirmed it. However, the list published by Port Adelaide (quoted by RustyCage above) presumes that it is set in stone at the end of the minor round.
I've also assumed that an AFL team is deemed to be "involved" for the whole weekend when they play finals—otherwise, if the 2 sets of games were to overlap (with the AFL finishing first), the 2nds might have to take players off at half-time of their SANFL final!
In short, if the AFL team lines up as selected, and if everyone who can fly back does fly back from Perth and play SANFL, there are 2 players included in the list published by PAFC who now don't (or at least shouldn't) qualify—O'Shea and Moore—and 2 players who were excluded from the list published by PAFC who will qualify—Impey (who qualifies regardless of what happens this weekend) and Aaron Young.
Impey: At the time that list was published, he didn't qualify. Right now he does, because he's played 3 of the last 4 SANFL games, playing SANFL Rs 16 and 17, not playing at all on the weekend of 22-24 August (SANFL R18), and playing 2SF. Therefore he qualifies under the '3 of the last 5 games at SANFL level' rule. Even if Port didn't play him this weekend in the SANFL, it'll still be 3 of the last 5 and he'd be eligible for GF selection if they made it.
O'Shea: As we speak, doesn't qualify because he's played 10 AFL and 10 SANFL games this year, i.e. not the majority of his football at SANFL level. (And all of his SANFL were ages ago, so no '3 out of 5' chance for him.) He's in the named 22 for the Pahhhhr 1sts, so there's no way he'll play SANFL, therefore after this weekend he really, really won't qualify.
Mitchell: This is a tight one. 10 AFL and 8 SANFL this year, so definitely not under that rule. At the time the list was published, he'd played 3 of the last 5 SANFL minor round matches: R14, 17, 18. However, R14 is ancient history now. In the last 4 Port SANFL games he's played 2: R17 and R18. So he must play SANFL this weekend to make the 3/5 and qualify for the GF if they win. Because he had the weekend off last weekend as well, definitely the pick to fly back and play if only 1 of them does. That said, there's another emergency they may be motivated to fly back & play...
Young: Another one on the edge, who qualifies only if he plays SANFL this weekend. 14 AFL, 4 SANFL for the year, but 2 of those SANFL games were R18 and 2SF, so add a 3rd and he'll qualify under the 3/5 rule.
Neade: Makes it easily even though he's been an automatic pick for the Pahhhhhr AFL side for a few weeks now. 14 SANFL, 6 AFL this year.
Moore: As we speak, 8 SANFL and 7 AFL games this year (with the SANFL having been a while back). So if he lines up as selected in the AFL, he will lose his 'majority SANFL' and will no longer qualify.
All of that said: carrrrn the Panthers.