Crows top-up players doubling up
The SANFL Crows in May 2015. Photo: Peter Argent
In a situation that raises questions about the credibility of the SANFL competition, at least three Adelaide Football Club development players in recent weeks have chosen to play both in the SANFL and with their respective rural clubs on the same weekend.
Development players Matt Wilson, Josh Wittwer and Justin Bollenhagen have all chosen to the double-up over the past few weekends, with one sustaining a serious injury after backing up for a second full match in three days.
Last Friday night Wilson played with Adelaide in their loss against reigning premiers Norwood at The Parade. The following day he was among the best players in Yankalilla’s 46-point loss to Mount Compass in the Great Southern competition.
He is expected to be changed by the SANFL judiciary after an incident in the Friday night contest.
Former Fremantle draftee Bollenhagen played for the Crows in the ANZAC eve clash on April 24 and then donned a jumper for the Renmark Football Club in the Riverland competition on Sunday, April 26, during which he tore his hamstring. He is expected to miss at a minimum four weeks of football.
After being drafted to the AFL in 2009, he played four games with the Dockers over the next two years.
Small forward/midfielder Wittwer also played in the April 24 clash against Glenelg, then fronted up for the Hahndorf Magpies the next day in their clash against the Mount Barker Roos.
He kicked a goal in the Saturday win in the Hills competition.
After a number of years playing reserves football at Central District, Wittwer finally gained his opportunity to play league football this year in the Crows development program.
Surprisingly, the SANFL doesn’t have any rule about players participating in a SANFL and playing for another competition on the same weekend. Rather, the player’s eligibility depends on the by-laws of the local competition.
Crows SANFL coach Heath Younie said it was a concern that footballers were attempting to play two games over a weekend, especially for their own welfare as footballers, and suggested they could be running more than half a marathon in the attempt.
