The flow-on effect of the Essendon supplements saga has forced the cancellation of a practice game between the Bombers' VFL team and Williamstown.
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The match due to be played on March 13 at Essendon's Tullamarine training base will not go ahead due to a lack of available Bombers players.
The AFL team takes on Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium in a NAB Challenge clash on the same day, and with the 25 2012-listed players remaining at the club all sitting out the game, the Bombers will be forced to call up about eight of their 14-strong Essendon VFL list.
They will be complemented by top-up players signed on short-term contracts – such as Clint Jones – and players brought in since 2012.
While it had been hoped Williamstown would provide players to fill the Essendon side and ensure a game could go ahead, it was ultimately deemed unworkable.
The Seagulls will instead play an intra-club practice game that weekend.
Essendon's two other VFL trial matches – against Richmond and Geelong on April 4 and 11 respectively – are unlikely to be affected.
The AFL's rules only allow for players on an AFL list in the past two seasons to act as fill-ins during the premiership season, which will have started by that point. The VFL season proper is also unlikely to be affected as a result of the different fill-in stipulations for the NAB Challenge and AFL season.
Only three of the Bombers' VFL list have been on an AFL list in the past two seasons: James Polkinghorne, Jordan Schroder and Kyle Hardingham, although the latter is understood to be one of the 34 players issued with an infraction notice by the AFL last November, and therefore could be unavailable in the case of suspensions anyway.
VFL clubs have been reassured that any top-up players not selected for the AFL Bombers will be free to join their VFL clubs, rather than be forced to play for Essendon's VFL team.
Meanwhile, Channel Seven has unveiled its commentary team for the upcoming VFL season.
The broadcasts will be hosted by former Fox Footy commentator and ESPN Australia front-man Jason Bennett, with player agent and former Springvale and Collingwood VFL player Nigel Carmody. Hawthorn premiership player Campbell Brown will fill the special comments role.
Seven acquired the state league's rights over the summer, ending nearly three decades of ABC coverage.
