“I think it would be a sensible decision. We have some players who have spent some time on the sidelines - if there is some flexibility in the rules then use it,” Sheedy said. “I am paid to coach and I think I would be negligent if I didn't take the opportunity to give these boys a game. I'm paid to best prepare the players and that is what I am doing. It would be restraint of trade if we couldn't play them.”
However, any AFL decision to allow Essendon to play senior players wouldn't wash with Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews who said the fair thing was for all sides to go without inter-club matches on the eve of the opening round. Matthews said it would be unfair because Brisbane had nowhere to put its players who had suffered from interrupted pre-seasons.
Sheedy today responded to Matthews comments. “Perhaps Brisbane should use the extra half a million dollars they get in the salary cap to organise a game with Mt Gravatt,” Sheedy said.
