Questions over Carlton midfilder Will Setterfield' eligibility to play in Carlton's VFL elimination final win over Collingwood on Sunday have been dashed.
Per VFL laws and guidelines, an AFL-listed player is eligible to play for the club's VFL side in finals as long as they have played no less than six VFL games and no more than 12 AFL games.
Before the weekend, Setterfield had played six VFL games and 13 AFL games, however with one of those AFL games being an unused medical substitute, he was cleared to play in Sunday's final.
“I was made aware of the Twitter storm around Will Setterfield and I did check it up with the rule makers,” VFL reporter Brendan Rhodes told SEN.
“As long as you’ve played six games in the VFL and no more than 12 games of AFL, then you’re eligible to play in the finals.
“As for Will Setterfield, the official figures are that he played six games in the VFL and 13 in the AFL, which is where the conjecture comes in, but of those 13 games, one was as an unused medi-sub which the VFL has ruled that it’s not an official game, which brings him back to 12 and means he’s okay to play.”
Rhodes also took to twitter last night to clarify the situation.
A lot of conjecture over Will Setterfield's eligibility for @CarltonReserves against @CollingwoodVFL today. He played six @VFL games (the minimum) and 13 AFL games (one too many). But one of the 13 was an unused sub, which doesn't count and so makes him eligible for VFL finals.
— Brendan Rhodes (@BRhodesVFL) August 28, 2022
Setterfield delivered a best-on-ground performance in the win over Collingwood, collecting 40 disposals, six inside 50's, 10 clearances and kicking 2 goals.
Carlton's VFL side will now take on the Brisbane Lions' reserves next weekend for a place in the preliminary finals.
