AFL GWS v Sydney: Follow the latest news and updates on the Giants-Swans clash

A number of Swans and Giants, including stars Toby Greene and Callum Mills, are facing a 14-day hard quarantine, plunging the clubs’ selection plans into chaos.

Toby Greene was among a number of players ruled out of the Sydney-GWS clash just before the first bounce. Picture: Getty Images

Greater Western Sydney star Toby Greene and Sydney midfielder Callum Mills are among eight more AFL players facing 14 days of hard quarantine in Queensland after fresh Covid chaos for the league.

The pair were among five players pulled out of last night’s clash between the Swans and Giants at Metricon Stadium after being upgraded to Tier 2 contacts following their attendance at a rugby match in Melbourne last Tuesday night.

Greene and GWS teammate Matt De Boer, as well as Sydney trio Mills, Harry Cunningham and Colin O’Riordan, were all forced to withdraw just an hour before the match.

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Toby Greene was one of the players withdrawn due to the reclassified Tier 2 site. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

In a drama-filled afternoon, replacement players for the two clubs were at their Gold Coast hotel when they were called upon to jump in the car and get to the ground.

Those players arrived at Metricon Stadium about 20 minutes before the first bounce.

Sydney’s back-up players James Rowbottom, Dylan Stephens and Ben Ronke had also all played in a scratch match against the Gold Coast Suns reserves the previous day.

The chaos came after Victorian health authorities on Sunday reclassified the players and staff as Tier 2 contacts, following their attendance at the Wallabies rugby clash with France at Melbourne’s AAMI Stadium last Tuesday night, affecting 15 players and staff across the two clubs.

The group had entered the rugby through gate 7 of the venue and sat in rows 25-42 of zone 2, an area upgraded to a Tier 2 exposure site by the Victorian Department of Health.

In Victoria, Tier 2 contacts are only required to isolate until they return a negative Covid test.

However, under Queensland Department of Health requirements, Tier 2 contacts must be tested and isolate until notified by the Department.

The quarantine period could be up to 14 days, with no guarantees given of a release even after a negative test has been returned.

Three other players who were not selected in Sunday’s sides – GWS’s Jake Stein and Keiren Briggs and Sydney’s Cal Sinclair – have also been thrust into quarantine, along with club staff.

A 14-day quarantine period would rule the players out of round 19 and 20 matches, with Sydney scheduled to meet Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney set to face Essendon next week.

Callum Mills was the biggest name Swan to be withdrawn. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Sunday night’s chaos came despite both teams passing multiple Covid tests since arriving in Queensland on a charter flight on Thursday.

Sydney coach John Longmire expressed his pride about his club after the Swans were able to prevail by 26 points over the Giants in the trying circumstances.

Longmire said pre-game meetings “went out the window” as the drama unfolded.

“I’ve got nothing but aspiration for the playing group. They continue to be able to deliver when things are stacked against them,” Longmire said.

“Our staff was also decimated and we didn’t have any staff left. We’re on the bones as we are with staffing and then to lose the staff that we did have, I’ve just got nothing but admiration for our staff. They just get on to it. They work five jobs. They work all day, every day.”

The Giants have now lost three of their past four matches and losing Greene for multiple games would be another hammer blow to their finals aspirations.

“Clearly he’s a fantastic player for us, he’s had a great year and we’re a far better team when he’s playing for us,” GWS coach Leon Cameron said.

“Whatever happens, we’ll deal with in the next 24-48 hours.”

Asked if the season should be paused and observe a bye amid the drama, Cameron said he would leave that for the AFL to determine.

“Whatever the AFL put in front of us, it’s in the best interest of everyone,” Cameron said.