TOPIC:

mikeh wrote:

Surely all clubs will be resistant to shortening the season because of the precedent it will set for future years. There is no problem with having the extra round, a final 5 and the Grand final in early October unless there is something that the WAFC haven't been telling us. Thats possible of course.

There should be but I am not sure that there will be unanimous support.  

Big % boost for sf and sd coming up I would say, conca the only freo player playing for peel for the next 2 games

DG wrote:

Big % boost for sf and sd coming up I would say, conca the only freo player playing for peel for the next 2 games
 

Why is he the only one playing?

Fremantle’s Reece Conca opts out of Dockers quarantine life, available for WAFL’s Peel Thunder
Headshot of John Townsend
John Townsend
The West Australian
Wed, 28 July 2021 2:00AM
John Townsend
Reece Conca won’t play for Fremantle after opting out of their strict quarantine.
Reece Conca won’t play for Fremantle after opting out of their strict quarantine. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian

Veteran defender Reece Conca will be the only Fremantle player available for Peel for the next two rounds after the rest of the Dockers squad opted to go into self-quarantine to remain eligible for AFL selection.

Conca has personal reasons to remain in the community, rather than accept the rigid isolation rules that will require Fremantle players to remain at home for all but training and matches.

The 14-day quarantine was required after Fremantle played on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Queensland is considered a medium-risk jurisdiction.

Conca will not be considered for Fremantle selection and will only be able to attend the club’s Cockburn headquarters when every other player is absent.

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WAFL - East Fremantle vs Peel Thunder. Pictured - Peel's Reece Conca marks
Picture: Daniel Wilkins
Reece Conca will play for Peel Thunder. Credit: Daniel Wilkins/The West Australian
The absence of the Fremantle players will stretch Peel’s depth against reigning premiers South Fremantle and Swan Districts, but football manager Matt Rosa said it would open the door for several junior prospects.

“It is a great opportunity for our local products, particularly this weekend when we celebrate 25 years of the club’s history,” Rosa said.

Peel did not win a game last season when they could not call on their aligned Fremantle players.

The game against the Bulldogs, who will attempt to rebound after being thrashed by Subiaco on Sunday, will be the only other occasion during the nine-year alignment with Fremantle that only one Docker has been in action.

The Thunder used three Fremantle players in their maiden final in 2015 when senior coach Ross Lyon called up numerous fringe Dockers while resting his senior players on the eve of AFL finals.

Peel lost that qualifying final to West Perth by 109 points.

Conca, 28, has played 150 games across 11 seasons with Richmond and Fremantle.

He played the first nine games for the Dockers this season but has made only one AFL appearance in the past 10 weeks during which he has played seven games for Peel.

He is one of 14 Dockers who are out of contract at the end of the season.

West Coast players have not been required to enter self-quarantine because their last interstate trip was to South Australia before the border restrictions were lifted.

But they may have to join Fremantle in self-quarantine after this weekend given they are due to travel to Melbourne to take on Collingwood on Saturday.

Victoria is also considered a medium-risk jurisdiction.

You can sort of understand not playing one of the lost rounds 
but not totally changing the finals format by making it a top 4 this late in the year
farcial situation if it's the case

Just scrap the round.

Anyone know when we might hear about last nights meeting?

The West Australian Football Commission advises that updates have been made to the fixture for the remainder of the 2021 Optus WAFL Premiership Season.

The season will conclude on the weekend of October 2/3, extending the competition by two weeks to accommodate a revised fixturing model.

The Optus WAFL Finals Series will remain as a top-five competition, with four weeks of finals culminating in a Grand Final at Optus Stadium.

The previously postponed Round 13 fixtures will take place over split rounds across August and early September, allowing for all teams to complete 18 home-and-away matches.

All WAFL clubs have been consulted throughout the review of the fixture, with the decision aiming to maintain the integrity of the three competitions for the remainder of the campaign.

WAFC Executive Manager – WAFL & Talent Scott Baker said the Commission would continue to make decisions in the best interests of the clubs and competition.

“Allowing the WAFL season to extend by two weeks gives the competition the flexibility required to complete an even fixture across the Simply Energy Colts, Reserves and Optus WAFL League competitions,” Baker said.

“Having the ability to play postponed fixtures across multiple weekends, maintaining the integrity of a top- five competition and finishing our season post the AFL Grand Final were considerations taken into account.”

“The last three months of the season are shaping to be extremely exciting, concluding with a celebration of WA football, showcasing some of the best players on the biggest stage at Optus Stadium for the Grand Final on the weekend of October 2/3.”

“As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to work closely with the State Government, WAFL Clubs and key football stakeholders, while ensuring the health and safety of our players and the community.”

Information regarding fixturing will be communicated as soon as the details are finalised.

Thanks RUS, for the first time in some time, sanity prevails, good on the clubs for not bowing to the WAFC's obvious preference to shorten the season and dump the final 5.

wonderful decision by all involved in this
applause here