Essendon weights session could lead to more positive tests for Bombers
The AFL has planned for a scenario where a player tests positive to COVID-19 and has now put their plans into action. But big questions remain: When will Essendon play again and how will it impact the season, Mark Robinson writes.
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The AFL always said it would need to be agile and flexible — and now it’s wobbly.
About 3.15pm today, as Sydney was about to dump another shock on the AFL competition by beating the much-hyped Kangaroos, the greatest shock was being confronted behind closed doors. That’s when rumours first circulated the football world Essendon’s Conor McKenna had tested positive to COVID-19.
When confirmed by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan a little after 4pm, the worst fears for the 2020 season were realised.
McKenna, his teammates and Essendon’s football staff are now in isolation. It’s believed focus will be centred on a group of eight players, which included McKenna, who completed a weights session after the team’s main training session on Friday.
McKenna also trained with the entire group but, because that was held in the open, it is considered a low-risk environment.
The weights session was held in a closed room, thus the greater concern.
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Time will tell if those players picked up the virus.
The positive result could mean the Bombers won’t play for two weeks. That could mean two others teams will be forced to have a bye.
That also would mean an already compromised season would be pulled in all kinds of directions in terms of the schedule, as the AFL has consistently warned.
“We’ll compress the season if we have to compress the season, as we’ve said all along,’’ an AFL official said last night
It’s not known yet when Sunday’s postponed Essendon-Melbourne game at the MCG will be played, such was emergency decision made today.
The AFL won’t panic — as opposed to being concerned — because they believe their contingency plans have prepared them for this exact scenario.
Their official position on whether the Bombers play next week probably won’t be known for at least 24 hours — because that decision is in the hands of the Department of Health and Human Services.
It will decide what happens with McKenna and all Essendon players and staff.
In the worst possible scenario, it could also decide if Essendon and maybe all the Victorian teams need to be put into a hub environment.
It also has a greater responsibility than McKenna.
McKenna was tested on Wednesday and was negative. He was tested Friday and returned a low-level irregularity. He arrived at the club on Saturday, was sent home, and had a third test which tested positive.
So, the DHHS will be desperate to know who McKenna had contact with after Wednesday. And who that person had contact with. And so on and so on.
The immediate reaction from fans yesterday was: Will the season be called off?
The answer is no.
Not yet, anyhow.
Clearly, the overwhelming feeling yesterday was of exasperation, although the AFL did not panic.
It has protocols in place and will be directed by the appropriate heath officials and there’s no indication — yet — the season is in jeopardy.
It might’ve been worse if McKenna played against Sydney the week before, and then Sydney played North Melbourne today. You get the picture.
The Sunday Herald Sun has been told the AFL learnt of the McKenna’s positive return when testers alerted the AFL’s chief medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt midafternoon.
The decision to postpone Sunday’s game was contingency plan 1A.
If the Bombers are banned from playing for two weeks, contingency plan 1B will be activated.
The AFL on Monday or Tuesday this week will release Round 6 of the schedule.
After today we have one extra game needed to be fitted into the schedule.
Who knows how many more might need to be accommodated.
It’s why, at the start of the AFL shutdown, the AFL said teams might be required to play two games in, say, five days. The Bombers, meanwhile, are in lockdown.
It was reported yesterday the AFL videos every training session to monitor “close contacts”. That video will closely examined by DHHS staff.
The concerns for football are obvious, but it’s far widespread than that.
Partners and close friends of Essendon players and staff will be stressed and will likely be required to be tested over the coming days. That 13,000 tests have been carried out for one positive — to McKenna — is hardly comfort for those people, particularly for those with children.
It is abundantly clear the AFL and the Andrews Government have a creeping emergency on their hands as COVID-19 continues to hold the state firmly in its grip
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Originally published as Essendon weights session could lead to more positive tests for Bombers