SA top public health officer’s bizarre plea to AFL spectators turned into MC Hammer mashup

A top health official raised eyebrows with a strange plea to AFL fans, and now online users have turned it into a hilarious MC Hammer mashup.

South Australia’s top public health officer who made a bizarre plea to AFL fans “not to touch that ball” has had her comments turned into a musical mashup online.

The hilarious video circulating on Twitter features Professor Nicola Spurrier’s comment dubbed over MC Hammer’s number 1 hit U Can’t touch This.

⚠️ PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT ⚠️
This weekend Adelaide Oval will implement an MC Hammer policy#AFLpic.twitter.com/kObL0zvEaR

— NedsAU (@NedsAus) June 2, 2021

On Wednesday, Professor Spurrier announced her decision to grant exemptions for Collingwood Football Club players and staff to fly into Adelaide for their clash against the Crows this weekend.

When questioned about potential exposure to supporters seated at ground level, she made the strange comment, warning fans to “duck” and avoid any contact with the ball if it was kicked into the crowd.

“I have noticed occasionally the ball gets kicked into the crowd – we are working through the details of what that will mean,” Professor Spurrier told reporters on Wednesday.

“If you are at Adelaide Oval and the ball comes towards you, my advice to you is to duck and do not touch that ball.”

Professor Spurrier made the bizarre comment during a media conference where she announced a Collingwood Football Club travel exemption. Picture: David Mariuz / NCA NewsWire

Addressing the media on Thursday, Professor Spurrier said she was aware of the video that turned her comments into a song.

She reiterated the football was touched by “sweaty men” and advised people to sanitise their hands if they touched it “before eating your chips”.

“That’s advice I would give pre or post Covid,” Professor Spurrier clarified.

“These players do not have Covid … so I’m perfectly comfortable with the ball. Just take it tongue and cheek.”

She joked that she was not a good sports player, saying she was “hopeless at catching balls”.

“I am not a football player and whenever a ball comes towards me — whatever sort of ball — my inclination is to duck,” Professor Spurrier said.

Premier Steven Marshall also joked about Professor Spurrier’s AFL skills, saying she had openly spoke about not being very good.

“I think if she tried to mark the ball it could be quite a nasty accident, but everyone needs to be sensible when they go to the football,” he said.

Deputy chief public health officer Emily Kirkpatrick said Professor Spurrier’s comments were ‘taken out of context’. Picture: David Mariuz / NCA NewsWire

Earlier on Thursday morning, deputy chief public health officer Emily Kirkpatrick clarified Professor Spurrier’s comments and said her colleague’s comments were “taken out of context”.

She first confirmed spectators were “advised” to throw the ball back onto the field and “give your hands a hand sanitise” afterwards.

She added the game was “a very safe, very low-risk activity” and that Covid marshals would make sanitiser available to fans.

“I think it (Professor Spurrier’s comments) was really just taken out of context,” Dr Kirkpatrick told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“It’s a very low risk for the SA public because we have all these measures in place. But, we know the ball is kicked into the crowd regularly, particular behind the goals.”

Dr Kirkpatrick said the Collingwood Football Club had already complied with testing requirements and Covid-19 protocols set out by the AFL.

She said she wasn’t surprised by the backlash to health authorities over their decision.

“We do have to make decisions based on an individual risk assessment for every application.

“We spent a number of days coming back to this particular application and went out for additional advice … To make sure if we were going to allow the players to come over, we were going to make it safe as possible and ensure we have all the provisions in place.”

Dr Kirkpatrick also confirmed there would be no spectators seated in the first two rows at Adelaide Oval.

A travel exemption has been granted for the Collingwood Football Club to play the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval on Saturday. Picture: Morgan Sette / The Advertiser

During Wednesday’s press conference, Professor Spurrier said the Magpies would fly into SA on a personal charter flight and would fly out immediately after the match.

Players will need to sign a declaration confirming they had not visited any Covid-19 hot spots while in Melbourne.

They must also remain isolated until their flight into SA, be tested 24 hours before they land as well as once they arrive.

Professor Spurrier added the Collingwood players would not have contact with anyone except for Crows players during the match.

“They will not be able to play until we have all the results in and they have all come back negative,” she said.

“They will be here, they will be playing the match and they will be leaving.

“This is a negligible risk – we have more of a risk taking people from hotel quarantine.”

Adelaide Crows players will also be tested within 48 hours after the game and will have “some restrictions on their movements” until all players return negative results.

Fans were warned “do not touch the ball” if it was kicked into the crowd. Picture: Morgan Sette / The Advertiser

Victoria was plunged into a seven-day lockdown after an infectious man unknowingly contracted the virus while quarantining in an Adelaide CBD medi-hotel in May and developed symptoms four days later after he returned home to Melbourne.

It was announced on Wednesday that Melbourne’s seven-day lockdown would be extended.

South Australia currently has hard border restrictions in place, barring anyone from entering the state from Victoria.

Only returning citizens or people with exemptions are permitted to enter but must complete 14 days of quarantine and fulfil testing requirements before they can mingle with the community.