Wangaratta Rovers decision to play former Melbourne players is allowed

Local products Dylan Stone and Tyson Hartwig will tackle the home game.

The naming of the classy duo sparked interest from some opposition clubs.

"There's no way we're going to be the club that brings COVID to the North East, we're not going to risk anything like that," football operations manager Barry Sullivan suggested.

"At the end of the day it's a game of footy compared to peoples' livelihoods."

As part of Melbourne's COVID lockdown, players based from the capital aren't allowed to play sport in regional Victoria, but the club juniors have moved home.

"They've been here for a long time before the lockdown measure came in," Sullivan offered.

"Tyson's been on his dad's (Leigh's) farm and Dylan Stone works with Bluearth (Foundation)) and they do regional activities.

"There is no way we would ever play ineligible players."

Given Victoria's constant lockdowns this season, the duo certainly isn't the first from teams around the league to return home to regional areas during the Ovens and Murray competition.

Sullivan is also regarded as one of the best and fairest officials in the league.

Rovers have broken a seven-year finals drought and are still favourites to finish in third spot and snare the double chance.

The Hawks and Myrtleford head into the penultimate round with an 8-4 record, while Wodonga Raiders are a further win back.

Rovers hold a strong percentage lead over both clubs, so if they can win at home against the Roos, they should guarantee the first game in finals won't be sudden death.

In next weekend's final round, the Hawks will then play an improving Wodonga, while Myrtleford is away to Corowa-Rutherglen, while Raiders face the brutal away assignment against Albury.

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The finals are scheduled to start on August 28, with the league praying COVID doesn't intervene.

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