Adelaide Crows players will not share water bottles under COVID-19 preventative measures introduced by the club

Adelaide Football Club has taken the precautionary step of numbering water bottles for each individual player to help prevent coronavirus being contracted by the Crows’ group.

Chayce Jones at training in december. Picture: Sarah Reed

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Adelaide has instructed its players not to share water bottles in its premiership season opener against Sydney at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

After renowned sports medico Dr Peter Larkins slammed Richmond and Carlton players for passing on water bottles – albeit squirting water into their mouths rather than putting their lips on the bottle – at the MCG on Thursday night, new coach Matthew Nicks said that wouldn’t be happening with the Crows.

“We’ve got some water bottles for all of our players, they are numbered, we’ve made a focus on that,” Nicks said on Friday, a day before coaching Adelaide for the first time in an AFL match.

Drinking from the same water bottle and shaking hands are considered ‘no-no’s’ during the coronavirus crisis.

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Jordan Butts (left) and Brodie Smith suck back some water during training prior to Christmas. Picture: Sarah Reed

Nicks said stopping player handshakes – among teammates and with the opposition – was harder to control.

“The shaking of hands is a tough one because we’ve celebrated Fischer (McAsey) being selected for his first game and it was hard not to acknowledge that because they (players) are emotional and excited and they wanted to show their passion and love for the fact he’s playing,” he said.

“So, it’s hard in that environment, but I guess the fact that we spend so much time together and have done everything possible to avoid contracting the virus, we’re backing ourselves in to stay healthy.

“And it would be the same with Sydney.

“But it’s an interesting one though, because when viruses do go through football clubs they go through pretty quickly.”

Paul Seedsman and Rory Sloane at Crows training in December. Picture: AAP/Mike Burton

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Nicks said he was encouraged by watching the premiership season opener between the Tigers and Blues, saying he “really enjoyed it”, despite the match being played in an empty house.

He said his players would have no problems playing at an empty Adelaide Oval.

“We train in similar conditions, with no atmosphere, so our players are used to it,” Nicks said.

He added some young players might stand taller without the pressure of playing in front of a big crowd.

New solo captain Rory Sloane has had a banner made for him to celebrate his 200th game, and with no fans allowed at the match Nicks said the club had been talking to the AFL about how best to acknowledge the milestone.

“It might be that our assistant coaches hold the banner up for him,” Nicks said.