AFL: Ty Anderson, Bailey Rogers, Tobe Watson and Damon Greaves all added to clubs’ COVID contingency lists

The South West could see an unprecedented number of local players on football’s biggest stage by season’s end, including another country footy bolter. Four local products were added to West Coast and Fremantle’s COVID top-up lists of 20 on Monday, including 21-year-old Ty Anderson, who could soon be made available to the Dockers in a shock selection. And a recently retired Bunbury star could be in line for a bizarre return, added to the top-up list for the club he recently signed on to coach, with Channel 7 in Melbourne reporting Neville Jetta has been added to Collingwood’s top-up pool. The former Melbourne defender was hired as a development coach when his 13-year stint at the Demons came to an end, and was expected to play VFL for the Magpies. Former HBL midfielder Anderson is yet to debut for Peel Thunder after taking on a senior role and winning his first best and fairest at the Lions last season. After signing with the Thunder, he was plucked by the Dockers to top-up a team in one of its pre-season intra-club games earlier this year. Players on the list, which were selected from WAFL clubs through a draft, could be called upon to train if either club’s playing stocks dip below 30 because of the pandemic and will be made available for selection if less than 25 players are available for selection. Two players with AFL experience made the list with former Docker Tobe Watson and 10-game Hawk Damon Greaves both being added to the Eagles’ list, while Sandover medallist Bailey Rogers will be a back-up for Fremantle, as well as Anderson. Watson was de-listed by the Dockers in a surprising move after playing 11 games for the club last year, before signing at his original WAFL club Swan Districts. Greaves, a Busselton product who was drafted to Hawthorn via East Perth, impressed in three late games in 2020, before playing seven of his 10 games last season. The Eagles are already the hardest hit side, down to just 25 available players for Sunday’s clash with Gold Coast at Optus Stadium. The West Australian reported on Tuesday night West Perth captain Aaron Black and former Docker Stefan Giro have both been invited to train with the club ahead of its season opener. Rogers, a Bunbury-born Claremont player, won last year’s Sandover Medal for the best player in the WAFL and had already been training with the Dockers this pre-season. He was one of a number of State league players to trial with the club, but none was signed as part of the Supplementary Selection Period, which ended last week.