AFL 2020: Recap all the action from Collingwood's win over Western Bulldogs
Collingwood delivered one of the best renditions of their song after players were discouraged from making unnecessary contact but Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge questioned the stricter protocols.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge can’t understand why players deemed healthy enough to play AFL are being discouraged from high fives or celebrating a victory by linking arms while singing their club’s song.
The AFL sent a memo to clubs on Friday after players in the Richmond-Carlton season-opener shared drink bottles and engaged in high-fives and hugs at the MCG, which were replaced by elbow bumps and foot taps at Marvel Stadium on Friday night as Western Bulldogs and Collingwood players adhered to the AFL’s stricter protocols on unnecessary contact.
Beveridge was annoyed that he had to address his players on the extreme hygiene measures before their Round 1 game against Collingwood.
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“You can’t have your cake and eat it too,” Beveridge said after the 52-point loss on Friday night.
“If we’re playing, we’re playing. We can’t then be saying, ‘But don’t sing the song with your arms around each other’.
“The assumption is that everyone who is playing hasn’t got the virus (COVID-19). That’s the assumption.
“So if you’re bumping each other and tackling each other and flying against each other and hitting each other … I reckon that’s a lot worse than singing the song with your arms around each other.
“All that peripheral stuff, if we can’t do that then why are we playing the game?”
Magpie Will Hoskin-Elliott booted an early goal and raised both hands in anticipation of high fives, only to quickly withdraw them and opt for a thumbs-up instead.
But the Magpies backflipped on their earlier decision to not sing the song.
Instead of linking arms the players clapped as they belted out Good Old Collingwood Forever, ensuring COVID-19 did not claim one of footy’s favourite traditions.
However, the stricter hygiene rules went out the window when Dogs debutant Ben Cavarra celebrated the first goal of his career.
Cavarra, 24, was mobbed by every teammate and enjoyed a few high-fives after converting a set-shot that was six years in the making for the man who first nominated for the AFL draft back in 2013.
Josh Bruce celebrated his first goal for the Dogs by fist-bumping all nearby teammates.
Magpies Brodie Grundy and Mason Cox set the tone early, celebrating their goals with a pair of elbow bumps.
During the pre-game warm-up Bulldog Mitch Walli and Pie Jordan De Goey ran 30m towards each other to engage in an elbow bump.
RECAP ALL THE ACTION IN THE BLOG BELOW
Originally published as AFL 2020: Recap all the action from Collingwood's win over Western Bulldogs
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