Victoria lockdown: Sam Newman complains about restrictions banning golf

Sam Newman’s biggest lockdown gripe is back to haunt him and the AFL icon isn’t going to accept Victoria’s new measures quietly.

The spread of coronavirus has forced Victorians into an extreme lockdown but the only thing Sam Newman wants to know is why he can’t play golf.

The AFL great and former Footy Show panellist has made a habit in recent months of criticising Premier Dan Andrews for preventing people from hitting the fairways as the global pandemic brought life as we know it to a halt.

That changed when restrictions were loosened as Australia looked like it was getting a grip on the spread of COVID-19 but an alarming increase in Victorian cases has resulted in a state of disaster being declared — and unfortunately for Newman, that means putting his clubs back in the bag.

As part of the tough new suite of restrictions, a nightly curfew has been placed on Greater Melbourne from 8pm to 5am but Newman is more concerned about why golf courses have been forced to close back down.

“Open: bottle shops and liquor stores. Shut: golf courses,” Newman tweeted.

“Dilemma — sit a home and get s**t-faced OR step into the wide open spaces, well away from others, exercising as you do, by playing GOLF. And the lunacy goes on.”

Responding to someone on social media who suggested there are more pressing concerns right now — like the effect Victoria’s lockdown will have on unemployment — Newman still managed to suggest his complaint was valid.

“The 100,000 out of work may want to play GOLF — seeing as they’re out of work,” Newman wrote.

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Sam Newman has different priorities to others.

In April, Geelong legend Newman marched on Victoria’s Parliament House in Melbourne to demand the state’s golf courses be re-opened immediately. He was angry his home courses were closed while those in other states like NSW were able to remain open, so long as players adhered to social distancing restrictions.

Months ago Mr Andrews said “no round of golf is worth someone’s life” as Newman repeatedly attacked the Premier’s leadership.

Melbourne residents are now enduring the strictest lockdown of anyone on the planet. They can only leave their residence for four essential reasons: Shopping for groceries and essential items; medical needs and caregiving; daily exercise in your local area; and work where it’s not possible to do so from home.

Exercise is limited to one hour, once per day, and must take place within five kilometres of home. Mask-wearing is also mandatory and all restaurants and cafes are closed for dining in.

Newman recently parted ways with Channel 9 after making explosive comments about George Floyd, the American man who died in police custody and ignited the Black Lives Matter movement across the world.