AFL 2020: North teammates now under the same roof after Victorian lockdown laws force them out of home

At least six North Melbourne players preparing to play the Western Bulldogs this Saturday have been forced out of home to avoid being caught in the state’s COVID-19 lockdown.

North Melbourne coach Rhyce Shaw has had to move players on field and off. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

North Melbourne have relocated 12 players, including up to six who could play this Saturday, to avoid Victoria’s COVID-19 suburb lockdowns.

The Kangaroos sent some to Airbnbs, some to families and some into houses with other teammates after 10 postcodes in Melbourne were locked down.

Captain Jack Ziebell was among those shifted, moving into an Airbnb rental with teammates Jy Simpkin, Mason Wood and Paul Ahern.

Ziebell‘s girlfriend, Shannon, is also staying with them.

North captain Jack Ziebell has been forced out of his home because of Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown. Picture: AAP Image/Scott Barbour

Coach Rhyce Shaw said it all went “pretty smoothly” and his players were a “no fuss group”, but the full toll of more upheaval could yet play out in Saturday’s clash with the Western Bulldogs.

“They‘re a no fuss kind of group. They get on with it pretty quickly,” Shaw said.

“It‘s been a bit challenging, but the work that Brades (football manager Brady Rawlings) has done has been exceptional. It has been as smooth as possible.

“Brady and his staff have been great, and our guys were all taken care of.

“Our boys adapt, they get on with it.“

While battling uncertainty around the fixture, the Kangas are also battling a tricky injury to star on-baller Ben Cunnington.

The 28-year-old dual best and fairest has missed the past two games with a back injury, and Shaw said it was “really difficult to explain”.

Cunnington will be named to face the Bulldogs, but a training session on Friday could determine if he’s “done enough” to play.

“It’s really difficult to explain, but he is improving every day,” Shaw said.

“It’s one of those things you think you can get away with it, he comes out and trains.

“We want to give him the chance to play. We’ll name him but there is an asterisk around him, and we’ll see how he goes tomorrow.

“He’s pretty confident he will be able to do something, but if that’s enough for Saturday, we’ll wait and see.”

Shaw said the Kangaroos had been preparing for the idea of travelling to an interstate hub all season and couldn’t rule out some players not wanting to go.

“We will work through that. As a footy club we will treat everyone as an individual and work through the situations that we need to,” he said.