What the rule means is that a player can’t start third grade have a rest and then start first grade, unless you are short players to actually field 11.
Any player can play in any grade but once they play in a set grade that’s considered their grade for that match day and each grade they play after that they are considered a borrowed player.
I was an actual example in the weekend just gone, played third grade GK and then started Ressies CB. I was considered a borrowed player because I had played thirds but because we didn’t have the numbers to field a starting 11 I was able to start and not be on the bench for Ressies.
It’s really only a rule for end of year to prevent teams stacking a lower grade to get results going into finals.
Of course if you want to stack from Round 1 that’s your choice
