I can only assume it ranks them as either VFL or "didn't play or go to school here." Surely some guy who is not associated with the university wouldn't be creating a piece in which he creates castes of our former players and such. that'd be really gross and pathetic. kinda antithetical to the VFL concept as well. I won't read it and won't link it. He did a poor job at coming up with a column for today.
I've basically come to the conclusion that if a sports writer doesn't work for the Athletic then they aren't worth a shit. If they were, then the Athletic would've hired them.