Collingwood and Williamstown lock horns in the VFL in 2019. Picture: AFL Photos

VFL CLUBS aligned with AFL teams will have priority access to sign players from other sides to ensure they can fill their line-ups for the makeshift season starting in August.

Aligned VFL clubs Box Hill Hawks, Casey Demons and Sandringham will have the ability to sign VFL-listed players currently contracted at an AFL standalone club (Collingwood, Essendon, Footscray, Geelong, North Melbourne, Northern Blues and Richmond).

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The players who were at standalone sides to help fill teams often dominated by AFL reserves can't feature for their sides due to the COVID-19 restrictions placed on the competition.

The priority access period opened on Wednesday night and will run to next Wednesday, July 1, with players such as former Hawk Teia Miles (now with Geelong's VFL side), Daniel Capiron (Geelong) and Josh Tynan (Essendon) already expressing interest to move clubs for 2020.

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Collingwood and Northern Blues, who have exited the competition following Carlton stepping away from its affiliation, have made their full lists available to be recruited for this year. 

Players from the NEAFL, which has been shut down for this season, will also be able to head to VFL clubs for the 2020 season in a loan system.

The VFL season will consistent of eight clubs with a seven-round season, with the top-four then competing in a three-week finals series. Players will have needed to have played at least one game to be eligible for the finals series.

Senior VFL lists can comprise a maximum of 40 primary-listed players, six development-listed players and two rookie-listed players. 

AFL Victoria will continue discussions with VFLW clubs as it prepares for its 'super series' in September which will see 120 female players stake their claim for a place on an AFLW list next year.

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Tristan Salter, the AFL's head of talent and state league competitions, said the League is working on its COVID-19 protocols before teams restart training.

"Our primary focus for the 2020 VFL season is preparing to return to play in a safe environment. We are currently producing strict protocols to protect players, officials, staff and the wider public ahead of contact training and matches returning," Salter said. 

"We will continue to follow the direction from the Victorian State Government and align with the return-to-play framework prepared by AFL Victoria."

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