The Lions had virtually locked in the lively small forward, who played 183 games for Carlton and Melbourne before he was de-listed last year.

Garlett was set to play for Albury Tigers before the cancellation of the Ovens and Murray League. He agreed to terms with GGGM a month ago, before AFL Riverina's strong recommendation Border-based residents not play forced the club to head in a different direction.

That recommendation was quashed on the eve of round two last week, and Lions coach Christin Macri said the late change gave them no option but to move on.

The Lions lodged a COVID permit for Garlett just before the deadline last Friday, but he will only play if other players are injured.

Garlett would take up six points under the AFL's Player Points System.

"Points-wise, we just can't do it," Macri said.

"We had Jeff pretty much locked in a month ago and were then told no Albury players couldn't play. We moved on and did some other recruiting.

"I'd have to basically say to three guys you're out of the team to fit Jeff in, and they're important players too.

"For the fabric of the club and what you want to do for the future, you just can't (do it). It's very disappointing because Jeff was quite keen to play.

"We're not going to push those guys aside at the moment, that's for sure.

"I know the league's trying to do their best and it's a unique circumstance, we just get on with it and we've got an important game this week."

Macri said the only way they could crunch the numbers to include Garlett would be if SANFL recruit Matt Neagle or former NEAFL player Sam Martyn were ruled out for the season.

"We'd have to have an injury to one of those two players, pretty much, because points-wise they're somewhere near Jeff and you could work it from there," he said.

"(Otherwise) we'd have to drop three players to fit him in, it's not feasible and there'll be no Garlett (against Osborne) this week."

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