Jack Ziebell speaks out after being named in a coronavirus hoax
Jack Ziebell has been the victim of a disgusting social media hoax after a post claiming to be from a football journalist named him as having coronavirus. The Roo then had to explain what happened to his shocked family.
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North Melbourne skipper Jack Ziebell has spoken of his family’s shock at a fake social media post that claimed he had tested positive for coronavirus.
A tweet on Sunday, which claimed to be from a football journalist, went online detailing the Kangaroos captain had been diagnosed with COVID-17.
The post was a fake, but Ziebell said it led to some anxious moments for his family.
“My old man gave me a call Sunday afternoon when I was outside doing something on the front lawn and I didn’t have my phone with me,” Ziebell told the Herald Sun.
“My girlfriend popped out of the house and said ‘your dad’s on the phone, he sounds a bit concerned.’
“I said ‘what’s going on mate?’ and he asked ‘do you have coronavirus’?
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“I said ‘what are you talking about? I don’t have it.’
“He said ‘I’ve had a mate ring me that said on Twitter that you have it.’
“I was trying to figure out what had happened and I checked my phone and saw I had a few missed calls from the footy club’s media manager Heath O’Loughlin.
“They worked out a reporter’s account had been hacked or something like that and that had been put out there.
“It’s probably more nerve-racking for my family because I knew I didn’t have it, but it was a bit interesting yesterday.”
Ziebell said he was happy to play this weekend in front of no crowds, provided it was deemed safe by health authorities.
“If we’re OK to play then ‘why not?” he said.
“But as soon as that changes, the AFL will make the right call because they’ve got all the same priorities as society has.
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“Whichever way it falls, we just have to roll with the punches a bit.
“But from a personal point of view, I’m happy to play as long as it’s safe.”
Ziebell said he would be available for Sunday’s clash with St Kilda after getting through a VFL practice game last Saturday.
“I pulled up really well so I’ll 100 per cent be available for Sunday’s game,” he said.