Adelaide-Collingwood AFL game: Hands off the football, please

AFL fans have been told the football is a Covid risk if it is kicked into the crowd during the Collingwood-Adelaide game.

Collingowood’s Darcy Cameron at the MCG last Satruday. Picture: Getty Images

The controversial decision to exempt Collingwood from the Victorian border closure ahead of an AFL game in Adelaide has descended into farce, with South Australian health officials warning fans not to touch the football if it is kicked into the crowd during the game.

Amid public confusion over why the Pies have been allowed into the state when almost all other Victorians are locked out, South Australia’s chief health officer Nicola Spurrier offered advice for fans worried about being infected during Saturday’s game against the Crows.

“If the ball comes towards you, my advice is to duck and do not touch that ball,” Professor Spurrier said.

She said the visiting Collingwood team would be under the strictest of limits surrounding their movements.

“They will not be making contact with anyone in SA except the players in the Crows team, that is the only group in SA that will be exposed,” she said.

Nicola Spurrie. Picture: David Mariuz

“All the team that will be coming over, and it’s a small contingent, they have to be tested within 24 hours of coming to SA, they will be swabbed at the airport and not be able to play until we have all their results in and they’re negative.”

The decision by SA Health to exempt Collingwood from the Victorian border closure sparked claims of double standards, with Police Commissioner Grant Stevens revealing details of the exemption to stem a public backlash.

SA Health announced late Tuesday that Collingwood would be allowed to fly into Adelaide on Saturday.

Even with tight restrictions, the announcement by SA Health prompted significant criticism from the public as many families and businesses remain affected by the border closure preventing Victorians from entering SA.

There is also public confusion as to why SA Health would allow Collingwood into SA at all, given that the MCG clash between the Magpies and Port Adelaide was the venue for a Covid-19 scare two weeks ago which saw some 1500 Port fans put into home isolation on their return to SA after an infected person sat near the Port cheer squad.

In a bid to ensure public trust in the decision, Mr Stevens took to talkback radio on Wednesday, reassuring people that all steps would be taken to ensure no threat to public safety.

Mr Stevens told Radio FIVEaa that Collingwood would be bringing what was effectively a “skeleton staff” to Adelaide and would be in and out on the same day on a private chartered flight.

“That was a decision that was made by SA Health, they have an exemptions team that assess applications for people to come in outside the restrictions we have for people coming into South Australia,” he said.

Mr Stevens said he understood the public concern over the exemption and was candid when asked if the SA Health decision had made his job harder in maintaining public support for border closure measures.

“Yes,” he replied.

A Collingwood spokesman confirmed that the club would only be bringing players, coaches and essential medical and support staff to Adelaide.