AT LEAST four AFL clubs won't stage match practice against an opposition team next week for players who miss senior selection.
North Melbourne and Essendon were left with little choice, given the limits on staff who can be in contact with footballers and the fact they are both playing in Sydney on Sunday week.
The interstate dilemma for the Roos and Bombers in round two will occur in rounds three (GWS and Sydney), four (Western Bulldogs and Collingwood) and five (Richmond, Gold Coast, Melbourne and Hawthorn).
The Western Bulldogs also opted not to organise any sort of 'scratch' game in round two for non-selected footballers but it's unclear whether this will change in future weeks.
They are due to play St Kilda in the last AFL game of round two in the new Sunday evening timeslot.
The Saints didn't confirm to AFL.com.au they won't organise any match simulation but that is the likeliest scenario.
AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking informed the clubs on Wednesday of the rules surrounding match practice for leftover players.
AFL-listed footballers cannot compete in any second-tier competitions in 2020, because of the strict medical protocols in place to try to avoid COVID-19 infection.
Only clubs based in the same state can play matches against one another, meaning the Swans and Giants face the prospect of playing each other every week for the next month.
The competing teams can mutually agree upon the match conditions, such as how many players per side and quarter duration if they are held in that fashion, but must lodge requests to the AFL one week in advance.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide will face off in a Showdown at Adelaide Oval before relocating to the Gold Coast quarantine hub but are yet to lock in a game for non-selected players.
Other potential scratch games include Brisbane and Fremantle, as well as Gold Coast and West Coast, all of which are based or temporarily stationed in Queensland.
Carlton and Melbourne meet at Marvel Stadium on Saturday week and are in discussions about staging a scratch game on the same day, with a curtain-raiser the ideal scenario.
The four remaining Victorian clubs – Collingwood, Richmond, Geelong and Hawthorn – are also yet to lock in matches but are in the process of looking further ahead than just next week.
The Magpies and Tigers will kick off the season restart at the MCG on Thursday night.
A spokesperson told AFL.com.au that MCG chiefs were yet to be contacted about a potential curtain-raiser on top of the senior game.
Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch said it was important to have something in place for footballers who weren't playing AFL matches.
"As an industry, we'll look to somehow give those boys some games going forward," Leppitsch said.
"We're not sure how that looks at the moment but it's going to be a challenge to keep the match fitness up for the guys who don't play AFL."
