AFL tells club CEOs Mad Monday has been banned in Queensland hubs as star calls for holidaying players who mess up to be booted out
The AFL has banned clubs from celebrating the traditional Mad Monday party in Queensland, as a star player has called for anyone who messes up after the season while holidaying be kicked out.
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North Melbourne star Todd Goldstein says AFL players who transgress while holidaying in Queensland next month deserve to be booted out of the state.
As the AFL banned clubs from celebrating traditional Mad Mondays while in hubs, the Queensland Government said it was powerless to evict players from the state.
The AFL — led by Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson — is feverishly working behind the scenes on behavioural guidelines for the dozens of footballers who have plans for postseason holidays in the Sunshine State.
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The political stakes are high in Queensland, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – who has saved the AFL season – up for election on October 31, one week after the Gabba grand final.
The AFL is desperate to avoid any further embarrassment after it was left with egg on its face when Richmond duo Sydney Stack and Callum Coleman-Jones were ordered to leave the state due to their Surfers Paradise bubble breach.
A series of AFL players behaving badly as guests in Queensland could derail Palaszczuk’s campaign.
The polls are tight, with Labor a narrow $1.80 favourite.
“We’re very lucky that the Queensland Government has allowed us to get this season up,” Goldstein said today.
“If you do have an act that is not up to standard then I think that looking to send someone home, or something along those lines, would be a just (punishment).
“We do have a responsibility to act and uphold ourselves in a particular way.”
The AFL Players’ Association rejected the suggestion players could be forced to pay a behavioural bond to help limit any post-season shenanigans.
It was floated that players could be forced to put down a sum of money like a rental agreement in case there were any post-season dramas.
But the AFLPA has not received any such proposal and was adamant that a bond-style agreement would not be enforced.
The players’ hub code of conduct has already been finalised by the AFLPA and the league.
News Corp revealed on Sunday that the AFL has written to all 18 club chief executives, banning the traditional boozy Mad Monday festivities.
Under the AFL’s COVID-safe plan, players are not prevented from drinking alcohol, but officials are concerned any outrageous shenanigans would be a poor look for a code relying on the generosity of the Queensland government to keep alive the season
There remains some confusion over what constitutes a Mad Monday celebration for the players.
There is a belief some players will want to have a few quiet drinks with their teammates after the season finishes.
St Kilda star Dan Hannebery said players deserved the opportunity to let their hair down responsibly.
“We’ve been under strict protocols for a long, long time now as players that have been above and beyond Victoria and then I was in stage-four lockdown for a period of time, which wasn’t fun,” Hannebery said.
“It’s been a long year for all admin staff, coaches, the AFL as well, and players.
“The clear message will be: be smart, behave, be mature, try enjoy yourself and relax.
“Go to a cafe for breakfast, go to a restaurant for dinner, enjoy a few beers if your season is over – and do it in the right way.
“I think the players deserve a bit of a break and a holiday because the reality is we’ve been uprooted out of home, blokes have been away from their families for a long time and it’s been the never-ending year and guys just keep accepting the path that we’re on.”
Queensland Health said there was no time limit they could impose on someone staying in their state.
“Once an individual has met all of their quarantine requirements they are able to enter the community,” a spokesperson said.
Teams from Western Australia, South Australia and NSW would be free to hold their traditional parties in their home states once their Queensland commitments are finished, while Victorian clubs would be at the mercy of COVID-19 restrictions imposed at the time.
The 10 Victorian clubs cooped up in Queensland hubs until at least the end of the regular season will have to forgo Mad Monday celebrations until they return home.
MORE AFL NEWS:
AFL 2020: Annastacia Palaszczuk calls for Sydney Stack, Callum Coleman-Jones to be kicked out
AFL 2020: Sydney Stack ban, Footy reacts to Richmond strip club scandal
Originally published as AFL tells club CEOs Mad Monday has been banned in Queensland hubs as star calls for holidaying players who mess up to be booted out