AFL Players Association provides independent advice to Port Adelaide and St Kilda ahead of decision on China game
Port Adelaide and St Kilda players will not be forced to travel to China for the scheduled Shanghai game in May, after receiving independent advice from the AFL Players Association.
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The AFL Players Association is conducting its own independent assessment of the health risks posed by the coronavirus in China ahead of a decision on whether the game between Port Adelaide and St Kilda in Shanghai in May goes ahead.
As the league continues to work closely with the Australian and Chinese governments in monitoring the situation, the AFLPA will provide players with an independent recommendation and advice on whether it’s safe to go.
The AFL’s fourth annual game at Jiangwan Stadium in Shanghai is still scheduled for May 31 but remains under a cloud as the country deals with the outbreak of the deadly virus.
AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh was in Adelaide to speak with Power players two weeks ago and says they will be given independent advice on the situation.
If the game goes ahead, Marsh said no player would be forced to make the trip and would be supported for whatever decision they make.
“We’ve been talking to the AFL regularly on the issue and have spoken to both clubs involved,” Marsh said.
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“There’s a watching brief on it, we’ve got a good process in place, there is a little bit of time before a decision needs to be made and we are really comfortable with the process.
“I am certain that the right decision will be made with the safety of players and officials as the number one priority.
“It’s certainly not a matter of ‘if the clubs decide to go then you go’.
“Part of the process is getting independent advice around this and making sure it is safe.
“We will make sure we take advice from independent people if it gets to that point and a decision will be made on safety.
“Clubs have nothing to gain by sending their players if they are at risk, but it’s important the players have an independent view and that’s what we will be doing for them.
“We were at Port Adelaide two weeks ago and had a conversation with the whole group about it.
“We haven’t been to St Kilda yet, but we have had a conversation with some players and I think they are comfortable with the process we have outlined and we are working closely with the clubs and AFL on it.”
Marsh was visiting West Coast on Tuesday and will meet with the Adelaide Crows men’s and women’s teams on Wednesday.
“It’s a discussion with the players around what are their priorities for the PA moving forward and mental health is a big issue at the moment,” he said.
“There has been a big shift in the industry over the last couple of years on this issue in a positive direction.
“If you go back two-and-a-half years ago, players told us the biggest issue they were facing was mental health.
“From that point forward we’ve been working really close with the (AFL) on how to deal with this, and we are seeing a significant increase in investment in support services around players.
“The PA gave every club $75,000 to stimulate spending ... most clubs are using it for psych services whether in-house or some external support.
“We’ve also seen an increase the soft cap and the AFL put its mental health team together late last year, so we’re seeing a much bigger priority given to this and the players are starting to feel it.”
reece.homfray@news.com.au