Liam Jones joins new Palm Beach Currumbin teammates at pre-season training on Gold Coast

Ex-Carlton defender Liam Jones has joined teammates at his new Gold Coast club under strict Covid compliance conditions after getting the all-clear from officials.

Retired AFL footballer Liam Jones’ new Queensland club has jumped through all the hoops to ensure its prized new recruit can begin life as a local player this season.

Palm Beach Currumbin president Anne Cornish told News Corp the club had even met with the Covid-19 investigations unit to ensure everything was above board prior to Jones’ first training run with the Gold Coast club this week.

Club and player were handed a lifeline when the Queensland-New South Wales border restrictions were scrubbed on January 15, allowing Jones – who has based himself in Kingscliff – to cross the border without quarantine requirements despite being unvaccinated.

“We’ve clarified all of that,” Cornish said.

“I checked with Queensland Health first and then I spoke to a Covid investigation unit as well, just to make sure.

“As soon as (January 15 arrived) and they opened the border, you didn’t have to be vaxxed (to enter Queensland).”

Liam Jones announced his shock retirement from the AFL in November last year. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

The former Carlton defender announced his shock AFL retirement in November last year after failing to meet the one-dose Covid-19 deadline under the AFL’s vaccine policy.

News Corp revealed earlier this month that Jones’ management had approached Palm Beach Currumbin soon after his retirement about playing in the QAFL for the Lions.

Under AFL Queensland’s Covid-19 vaccinations policy, the QAFL is the highest level of football available to an unvaccinated player in Queensland.

The VFL and affiliated talent pathways programs all require proof of vaccination, whereas the QAFL classifies as a community sport competition and is subject to the Queensland Government’s Covid-19 restrictions, which allows for access to sporting facilities.

“So he can come over the border but he can’t go into the club, cafe or any of that sort of stuff,” Cornish said.

Senior coach Russell Maloney said Jones had already started to leave an imprint on the playing group after just two training sessions.

Maloney, who missed training this week while isolating with Covid-19, said Jones would take a more hands-on assistant coaching role from next week.

“He’ll be our line coach for the backline,” Maloney said.

“I’m happy for him to illustrate what he wants to do among those players.

“Obviously a few things will change from last year to suit what he wants to do (with the backline).

“Liam has been fantastic. He’s keen and wants to do as much as he can. He’s a ripper bloke and he knows it’s not all about him. He’s a very genuine person.”