A clearance for Garlett to join GGGM from Albury Tigers was lodged on the weekend, along with a number of others from the Ovens and Murray League to AFL Riverina competitions.

It was part of the Victorian lockdown announced on Thursday, which prompted the Ovens and Murray League to put their season on hold for two weeks.

Jacob Conlan, Lucas Conlan, Adam Flagg, Lachie Flagg, Kane Flack, Zac Brain and Mitchell Scott were just some of the players to cross leagues for a week.

Garlett's clearance to GGGM was lodged but Lions president Jason Hamblin insists nothing is in it.

"Jeff was thinking about jumping in the car with Jacob and Lucas Conlan and having a run against Griffith," Hamblin said.

"But working closely with our playing group, we're pretty happy with the skin we're in and the personnel we've got around us already.

"We learnt a lot from last year."

Garlett was cleared to GGGM for last year's AFL Riverina Championship, once the Ovens and Murray League was called off, but never played a game.

The Lions instead wanted to focus on players already at the club, those who had strong connections, or wanted to commit long-term.

GGGM coach Sam Martyn also questioned the worth of the short-term recruiting after the Lions' win over Griffith on Sunday.

Garlett was put in touch with the Lions through Daniel McPherson, a celebrated GGGM product. McPherson played 111 AFL games for Sydney and has worked at Melbourne for the past seven years, where Garlett spent his last five seasons at the elite level.

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Meantime, Myrtleford president Ian Wales has questioned whether the Ovens and Murray league should prevent players from switching competitions in the interests of fairness.

Wales was outraged to learn that players were allowed to switch leagues.

The outspoken president said NSW based O&M clubs already have a 'massive advantage' over their Victorian counterparts in regards to still being able to train as normal.

"NSW clubs can train as normal and now you're telling me can switch leagues as well? - What a joke," Wales told The Border Mail.

"It's a massive advantage because if you are in Victoria, you can't do a thing.

"When you can't train together it's tempting for blokes in winter to miss a session and have a hot pie instead.

"I know it's a state government decision in regards to training and that it is an anomaly of COVID-19.

"But surely the league should be questioning whether it's fair for players to switch leagues.

"If a NSW based club happens to win the flag, will the victory be tainted by COVID and the massive advantage they have got at the minute?

"I think it will but I'm the first to admit I would be doing the same thing at Myrtleford if in the same situation."

Ovens and Murray League general manager Craig Millar conceded Wales raised a valid point.

However, Millar said the league's hands were tied in regards to player movement.

"I can see where Ian is coming from but the short answer is the league can't stop players from switching clubs," Millar told The Border Mail.

"The jurisdiction on player transfers is between the AFL and the clubs."

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