How this unique season has transpired has ensured most teams have an embarrassment of riches, to the point where gun players who have played at higher levels have been asked to sit out or play second grade.

This weekend, former Werribee player Jacob Smith won't play for Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes as coach Jeremy Rowe looks to acknowledge the solid job done by his incumbent players in last week's round two win over Osborne.

By all accounts Smith took the news well, understood there's a pecking order involved and is aware that, while he has the talent to walk into the side, the club is looking to ensure team harmony remains strong after their decisions at the selection table.

There's been a number of other examples across the league where coaches haven't been tempted by pure talent to thrust recruits into their side immediately.

Instead, they've made them earn it. To prove in this once-in-a-lifetime, six week season that they're not just coming across for a cheap kick, but want to become invested in the club.

Curtis Steele is a former Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong player who joined Coleambally a couple of years ago, and will rejoin the Blues as co-coach next season.

With Coleambally opting not to play this year, he had to bide his time in reserve grade for two weeks before being called up for Saturday's clash at Osborne.

The Lions took a similar approach with Coolamon product Liam Delahunty, who is training with GGGM while the Hoppers are on a sabbatical in 2020.

Considering it's a whirlwind six-week season where every win is vital, it would have been easy for the Lions to rush both players into their line-up.

Delahunty was considered unlucky to miss selection in last year's AFL Draft, and will turn out for the GWS Giants Academy later this month.

However, every club playing this year is looking to complete the juggling act of recruiting enough guns keen for a game to compete with their rivals, while also ensuring they don't affect team culture and ruffle the feathers of loyal clubmen they want to come back next year.

Leeton-Whitton took a similar path with Jeromy Lucas, a highly-rated youngster destined to potentially play VFL for Port Melbourne this year before the coronavirus pandemic put paid to those plans.

He played reserves last week, racked up over 50 disposals and his general professionalism around the group has been rewarded with a first grade call-up this week.

AFL Riverina's decision to initially ban Albury players from competing, before quashing that recommendation just before round two, has also provided significant selection dilemmas for coaches.

"Guys playing really well on the weekend, having quality players in the twos play really well and having a couple of Albury guys rejoin our club has definitely created some pretty massive headaches this week," Rowe said this week after including recruits Trent Castles and Zach Walgers in his team this week.

Playing football, but also ensuring their future is healthy on and off the field in the future if they do so, has always been the mindset of the six competing clubs.

If it means making some tough selection calls which may hurt in the short term, so be it.

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