North Adelaide FC SANFL player tests positive for Covid-19 as club nears 100 per cent vaccination rate

An SANFL club has made its vaccination stance clear as a player tests positive to Covid-19. See what the case means for the club and the competition.

SANFL club North Adelaide has confirmed a positive case of Covid-19 on Tuesday.

A 20-year-old Roosters league and reserves player – who is double-vaccinated – recently tested positive and is quarantine with mild symptoms following SA Health protocols.

The North Adelaide league and reserves squads trained together at Henley Beach on Saturday morning and each player, coach and staff member who attended has been tested and is awaiting results.

All close contacts of the player are also isolating.

It is understood the player possibly contracted Covid late last week while in contact with a friend who later tested positive.

North Adelaide chief executive Craig Burton said he was thankful of the player’s quick action to get tested.

Rooster Andrew Moore against the Crows. All North Adelaide league and reserves players who trained on Saturday have been tested for Covid-19 after an unnamed player became a confirmed case. Picture: Emma Brasier

“I want to commend him for the urgency he has demonstrated in getting a test at the first sign of his fatigue, informing the club and doing everything possible to protect his teammates and our staff,” Burton said.

“As a club we are taking every precaution to ensure the health and wellbeing of our staff and the broader community and appropriate supports have been put in place for the player and his family who are isolating during this period when families are getting together for Christmas.”

North Adelaide is on break now until January 10 and is hoping all goes well for a timely return to pre-season training.

The case comes just a week after the SANFL announced its mandatory vaccine mandate for season 2022 and Burton said the club had remained strong on vaccinations and testing considering the current climate.

“These situations are happening more often now that our state has opened up and this highlights the importance of being vaccinated and getting tested as soon as you have any symptoms,” he said.

“We’re probably very similar to all the other SANFL clubs in that we’re running near 100 per cent vaccination with around four players who haven’t been vaxxed.

“These players still have til January 28 and we are working with them towards that date.”