Jesinta Franklin reveals why she opted out of AFL hub
Jesinta Franklin, wife of Sydney Swans star Buddy, has made a frank assessment of the AFL’s Queensland-based WAG hub — while revealing her fear that she would have a breakdown if she joined fellow WAGs in the quarantine bubble.
Fiona Byrne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fiona Byrne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jesinta Franklin says she believed she would have a breakdown if she had gone into the AFL’s Queensland-based WAG and player hub with her husband and young child.
Franklin, the wife of Sydney Swans star Buddy Franklin, made the frank assessment of her ability to thrive in the restricted and regimented AFL hotel bubbles on social media.
“The hub life (despite the actions of others) is not a holiday as it may be appearing,” Franklin wrote.
“You have to live in a hotel room and you can’t leave the hotel unless it is for absolute essential reasons; i.e. seeing a doctor.
“You eat all your meals prepared by the hotel at set times in a room with everyone else, like a school camp.
“For both mine and my husband’s mental health, living in a small hotel room with a baby was just not something we thought was fair on either of us, or our daughter.
“We have already spent five months in lockdown without being able to see family or friends due to AFL protocols so going into a complete lockdown would have probably led to a breakdown for me.
“It just wasn’t the best option for our family.”
Franklin, whose daughter, Tullulah, is five months old, also noted she had work commitments that she would not be able to complete if in the hub. She has stayed in Sydney and moved closer to her family while Buddy is at the Swans’ Queensland hub.
She said the Swans had been “incredibly supportive” of all partners.
“Everyone is so different though and the Sydney Swans have been so incredibly supportive and provided us with the best care we could have asked for whether you are in the hub or not,” she wrote.
“They have truly gone above and beyond for all the partners. The hub is 100% necessary for the game and everyone to be kept safe and healthy and we are very grateful that the season was still able to go ahead despite what is going on in the world.
“So many people have lost so much so to be still able to work is a true blessing.”
Franklin recently blasted selfish anti-maskers and covidiots who flaunt quarantine and social distancing rules.
“(I am) absolutely disgusted in the behaviour of some individuals who think they are above this virus or the regulations set out by our Government,” Franklin said.
JESINTA FRANKLIN BLASTS SELFISH COVIDIOTS