Gillon McLachlan explains what will happen if an AFL player tests positive for COVID-19
The games have started but the distancing message still needs to get through to some players, who shared water bottles in the season opener. Meanwhile, Gillon McLachlan has revealed what will happen if a player tests positive.
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An AFL player who had coronavirus would have been certain to spread it to teammates using water bottles in the manner players did on Thursday night, according to medico Peter Larkins.
The revelation comes as AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan revealed that the AFL season will shut down for a minimum of 30 days if a player from one of the 18 clubs tests positive for coronavirus.
Fans were aghast that players were so freely sharing water bottles, high-fiving and even singing the song with hands around each other’s shoulders after the Carlton-Richmond clash.
The league is likely to reinforce to players the strict protocols about self-distancing ahead of the weekend’s games.
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Respected sports medico Larkins told the Herald Sun he believes there will be a change to water bottle protocols as soon as Friday night.
The water bottles in use by AFL clubs are in place so players can squeeze water into their mouths without even making contact with the bottle.
Instead players rested their chins on the bottles and put their mouths to nozzle, ensuring they spread spittle and saliva to players who used the bottles immediately afterwards.
Larkins believes trainers wearing gloves will now squeeze the water directly into a player’s mouth without him contacting the bottle to ensure no spread of saliva.
He said this morning if players were to continue playing they needed to be an example to the rest of the community.
“If there was any player who might be coming down with the virus he would be guaranteed to pass it on to everyone who used the same water bottle.
“We know players will high five after goals and we are not going to stop that but there is some basic (hygiene) stuff. It’s just a responsibility as a player.
“We are asking the community to do the hard stuff and having footy is good for the community. It’s a contact sport and so you won’t spread it with sweat but when a bloke takes his mouthguard out and there is spittle and saliva coming off his mouth and onto his hand and then he takes the same hand to use the water bottle then give it to his teammates…
“Then they use the water bottle incorrectly by resting their whole mouth and nose on it.
“What you will see going forward will be the trainer holding the bottle up and squirting the bottle into his mouth.
“So the player won’t touch the bottle. We are under scrutiny as a sport and telling community clubs to have individual water bottles then a trainer goes to the centre square and every midfielder has a drink.”
McLachlan said he knew of a number of players who were in quarantine at the moment, but stressed no player in Friday night’s Collingwood-Western Bulldogs game at Marvel Stadium was under a cloud.
McLachlan also said he had spoken with football operations chief Steve Hocking about getting the on field protocols better than they were for the Richmond-Carlton clash on Thursday night.
“I know of players in quarantine. I don’t have the latest (information), but I know no players or officials from tonight’s game that are pending tests,” McLachlan said on 3AW.
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Asked what the implications would be if one player tests positive, McLachlan said: “We would certainly stand down for a minimum of 30 days.”
“We need to make sure our protocols are completely tight.
“It is a problem that is not going away ... we understand it is going to be bumpy and we all have got to stick together.”
McLachlan also said he had spoken with football operations chief Steve Hocking about getting the on field protocols better than they were for the Richmond-Carlton clash on Thursday night.
“I know of players in quarantine. I don’t have the latest (information), but I know no players or officials from tonight’s game that are pending tests,” McLachlan said on 3AW.
Originally published as Gillon McLachlan explains what will happen if an AFL player tests positive for COVID-19