NSW NRL teams able to fly in and out of Queensland while Swans, Giants must relocate north of the border
Both codes are living under equally strict bio-security protocols yet the AFL are questioning why they aren’t getting the same traction with access to Queensland as the NRL are getting.
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Questions are being asked behind the scenes about why Peter V’Landys can bulldoze a saloon passage between NSW and Queensland and the AFL can’t.
While the Queensland Government has granted exemptions to V’Landys for the NRL season to continue despite the border being closed, Sydney Swans chief executive Tom Harley revealed on Thursday that he’s bracing his players and staff for the prospect of eight weeks on the road in a hub.
There are no complaints whatsoever from GWS or Sydney about this immediate block of fixtures where they headed to Brisbane for nine days, before flying to Perth for the three weeks following.
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However, the head scratching may come at the back end of the AFL season if the Giants and Swans are forced back into a Queensland hub rather than being allowed back home to Sydney.
There would be an apparent double standard if Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was awarding NSW leave passes to the NRL and not to the AFL – despite the fact they’re living under equally strict bio-security protocols.
Some believe Palaszczuk may have been spooked by a threat that the NRL would simply move their Queensland teams to NSW if exemptions weren’t granted. But how much power will the AFL be able to wield in a northern state if in a month’s time GWS and Sydney ask to return home?
The Sydney teams would dearly love to finish the year with home games which fans could attend in NSW, or if that’s not possible, at least be allowed to do as the NRL is doing and take a private jet to and from their Queensland on game days.
There is a game of political football being played in the background to the AFL and NRL seasons; The conspiracy theorists even wondering what influence the Queensland border closure might have down the track if the AFL is forced to choose between Brisbane and Sydney for an AFL grand final.
Sydney Swans co-captain Josh Kennedy bade a long and difficult farewell to his wife and two young boys on Thursday afternoon – leaning into the car window where his sons sat inside – before finally walking away, head down, to board the team bus to the airport.
Kennedy would suffer as much as anyone if the Swans are forced into interstate hubs for eight weeks, particularly given he’s still at least a month away from even contemplating a return from injury.
Swans chief executive Tom Harley said Kennedy was an example of the sacrifices being made by players and staff, and admits he has no idea if Sydney will be returning home this season.
“It’s like a lot of things. It’s unknown. Clearly we’re working with the AFL, we’re under their leadership,” said Harley.
“We’d love to come back to Sydney, no doubt about it. But we need to be realistic and have a high level of pragmatism among our travelling parties as to what happens post Perth.
“So we are preparing the players, the families, we’re talking about an eight week period.
“But if it ends up being a three and a half week period (that would be great).”
Harley paid special tribute to the likes of Kennedy who are saying goodbye to young families for an unknown period.
“Obviously he’s got his leg in a brace at the moment. He’s recovering well. Josh is a professional, he will get through what he needs to in a football sense. He’s also a young father with two young kids,” said Harley.
“We should never lose sight of the sacrifice the players and staff are making to get the show on the road. It’s significant. And Josh is an example for us. Everyone who is a fan of the game or involved in administration like I am, we should really appreciate the sacrifices the players and staff are making.”
Buddy in border drama as Giants, Swans evacuate NSW
Sydney and GWS are all but resigned to the West Australian Government shutting out their wives and families, thrusting superstar dads like Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Sam Jacobs into months of uncertainty.
The Swans and Giants will evacuate from NSW on Thursday afternoon to beat Queensland’s sudden border closure and there is every chance they won’t return until the end of the AFL season.
Players and coaches with partners and young children now face some agonising decisions over how to manage their family lives, as the two Sydney sides prepare for nine days hubbing in Brisbane and then up to a month in Perth, before the prospect of returning back to Queensland again if the COVID-19 situation in NSW has not improved.
Of the AFL clubs who have already hubbed in Western Australia, only two family members from Hawthorn, three from Geelong – including one on medical grounds, and two West Australians allowed back to see relatives, have been granted special access into the state.
Carlton weren’t allowed any family.
GWS ruckman Jacobs has a little daughter Imogen and wife Izzy, pregnant with their second child, is due to give birth in November.
The Jacobs clan will travel north with the Giants on Thursday, but if they don’t receive an exemption from the WA Government, they will be forced to return home to Sydney without family support or retreat back to their extended network in South Australia.
Should the Jacobs family seek to rejoin the GWS hub in Queensland again later next month when the Giants return, they would have to quarantine separately for two weeks.
Swans star Kennedy is in an awkward position.
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The Sydney co-captain isn’t due back for another four or five weeks. Does he leave his young family now to avoid having to quarantine down the track? Or does he stay at home now and then take his chances that he might get special dispensation to train while in quarantine in Queensland?
The Swans have already confirmed Lance Franklin is heading to Perth with them, meaning he must now brace for the prospect of not seeing his baby daughter Tallulah or wife Jesinta for an indefinite period.
To their credit, the AFL had pre-planned perfectly for the scenario that Queensland would close itself off from NSW, and GWS and Sydney will play their next two matches in Brisbane and Gold Coast before heading off to Perth for another block of action.
Sydney coach John Longmire admits his playing group and coaching staff – all family men – may not return to Sydney until the end of September.
“It‘s a possibility. Anything is possible in this environment,” said Longmire.
“What you‘re fast becoming accustomed to is turning up to work on a Monday and being not sure what the next day will bring. Who knows what happens from here on in - it’s very much a case of, and I’ve always said this - you worry about what you can control. That’s no more relevant than now.”
NRL supremo Peter V’Landys is confident exemptions already agreed to by the Queensland Government will mean the rugby league competition can continue to travel via private jet for matches without the need to move teams or fixtures.
However, the AFL wasn’t about to take any risks.
Originally published as NSW NRL teams able to fly in and out of Queensland while Swans, Giants must relocate north of the border