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“Restraint of trade”: Demons coach criticises frustrating VFL schedule
Jaiden Sciberras & Andrew Slevison • August 6th, 2026 9:30 am
Melbourne head coach Steven King is far from impressed with the VFL's schedule as the Casey Demons approach yet another bye round.
With just three rounds of AFL football remaining, King's Dees are eyeing a spot in September, with a top six position well and truly up for grabs in the coming weeks.
And in appropriate timing, the Demons are facing the prospect of Kade Chandler, Latrelle Pickett and Daniel Turner all returning from injury as the end of the home and away season approaches.
However, unfortunately for Melbourne, the club's VFL affiliate Casey faces their third bye round for the season this week, before playing out their final game of the season against Box Hill the following weekend.
This of course denies King the opportunity to roll talent through the reserves in order to build necessary match fitness, citing the schedule mismatch as a “restraint of trade”.
“Our VFL has only got one game left for the year. We’ve got no game this week and then we play Box Hill next week and that’s the end of it,” King said on SEN Breakfast.
“It’s up to Casey and for us to perform at a level to play finals to extend our year, but it is frustrating.
“It’s almost a restraint of trade when you consider we’ve got full-time players here whose jobs are to play football, and they’ve got State byes and VFL byes.
“Even last week, do you hold someone out and not play them in case they get injured in the warm-up? Or your three emergencies, you know they’re going to have next week off as well if there’s no changes.
“When you’ve got guys who want to push the line to get back or revive their career or play for a new contract, ultimately we’ve just got to create a game-like session on a Saturday before we play Fremantle for those guys.
“So it is a bit frustrating.”
Garry Lyon spared the media training.
“I’d go further - I know you’re being diplomatic - that’s farcical,” the Dees great said.
“Your restraint of trade call is particularly relevant because, as you say, you’ve got maybe careers on the line and the feeder competition is not providing the environment that’s going to allow them to ply their trade as best they can.
“I would imagine you’ve got the club making some submissions to the AFL or the VFL?”
King suggested the club would call on the AFL Players' Association (AFLPA) and the AFL to come up with a solution.
“Yeah, and I think even the PA could have a huge role in that as well," he added.
“Maybe the AFL-aligned clubs get together and whether we have to organise more intra-clubs on those weeks if there are other byes.
“Ultimately, we just want full availability at the right time of year and give every player on our list a fighting chance to be fit, fresh and available when the whips are cracking.
“It’s just a layer of complexity that doesn’t really need to be there.”
Melbourne takes on ladder leaders Fremantle at the MCG this Saturday as they strive to keep their footing in the top six.
The Casey Demons, who are without an official game this weekend, are sitting down in 18th on the VFL ladder with six wins from 17 games.
Casey's campaign will finish after the Box Hill game on August 16 while the senior Dees will still have two home and away fixtures plus potential finals to play.
