AFL plans to reduce squad sizes described as 'brutal' by former leading player

Ex-Adelaide star Mark Ricciuto is concerned about proposals to cut the playing list from 44 to 35

AFL plans to reduce squad sizes, which would impact on Irish recruitment, have been described as “brutal” by a former leading player.

Ex-Adelaide star Mark Ricciuto, 2003 Brownlow Medal winner (AFL player of the year) who represented Australia in the 1998 and 2000 International Rules Serie  against Ireland, is concerned about proposals to cut the playing list from 44 to 35, which may kick in as soon as next year.

It’s one of a number of changes being floated, another of which is to have the game played on a 16-aside basis rather than 18-aside, that would impact on the the number of Irish players breaking into Australian rules, something which is set to be hit in any event by belt-tightening as a result of the coronavirus.

There are currently 17 Irish players at AFL clubs, with the likes of Zach Tuohy (Geelong), Pearce Hanley (Gold Coast) and Conor McKenna (Essendon) among the standout performers in the competition.

“I worry about the list sizes reducing from 38 plus six rookies to just 35 and why we are doing it,” Ricciuto is quoted as saying in the Herald Sun.

“What happens to category B players? How do we attract them from other sports? Irishman? Rookies? They make up 20% of premiership teams. Not anymore.

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“How do you cater for injuries? How do you structure your list? Do you have 30 that can play plus 2-3 from the recent draft and the same from the year before? If they don’t make it after two years, are they dumped? What about rucks?

“There won’t be many drafted, just the standouts? What do clubs do with the players that don’t get a game? They won’t have their own second’s sides. Do they align to one team or spread them throughout an SANFL?

“About 80-90 players are usually drafted and that will go to 40-50. What happens to the 30 that miss out? You can’t tell me they will get developed better at a lower league with less resources than what they had in 2019. What about their welfare with no welfare staff?

“It seems like a brutal decision with lots of losers.”

However, ex-St Kilda player Leigh Montagna, who played alongside Irishmen like Tommy Walsh and Colm Begley and is another International Rules veteran, is positively disposed to the idea.

He said: “Absolutely this is a more workable model. History tells us the top 30-32 players on each list average 98% of the games played per season anyway.”

The AFL is set to resume next month behind closed doors though there are tentative plans to stage the Grand Final, which has been rescheduled for October 24 at the 100,000-capacity MCG, with up to 30,000 present.