AFL’s last wave abandons Victoria but it’s no holiday

Small fines and warnings are expected to be issued to three AFL clubs which breached COVID-19 guidelines.

AFL players, their wives, girlfriends and families on their way to Queensland. Carlton’s Matthew Kreuzer gets his temperature checked by Nadine Rabah from the AFL. Picture: Mark Stewart

The AFL has issued a strict reminder to the clubs based in hubs in Queensland and Western Australia about the importance of adhering to COVID-19 regulations after recent breaches on the Gold Coast.

As hundreds more AFL-aligned parties headed to Queensland, the league has finalised its investigation into several minor breaches of guidelines by Richmond, Carlton and North Melbourne.

It is expected to issue only small fines, along with official warnings, given the breaches stem from confusion and communication issues.

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There was positive news in Sydney with superstar Swan Lance Franklin, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, joining his teammates for the trip north to beat the border closure.

About 400 players, wives and girlfriends, children and officials departed Melbourne for Queensland as part of the last major AFL exodus from Victoria.

Mardi Dangerfield had her daughter Felicity strapped to her front as her son George trotted alongside the pair at Tullamarine Airport, very keen to see his father Patrick.

The Cats champion is still in Perth but will head to Queensland after Geelong’s clash with West Coast on Saturday night. Brit Selwood, the wife of Geelong captain Joel Selwood, said she was “looking forward to spending some time with the boys”.

Blues ruckman Matthew Kreuzer, who was wearing a black mask, shouldering a backpack and pushing a luggage trolley, paused for a temperature check before being allowed to proceed to check-in.

Tiger champion Bachar Houli, whose mother Yamama is recovering from coronavirus in hospital, spoke of his concern for her.

AFL football manager Steve Hocking and legal counsel Andrew Dillon were among the senior personnel to fly to Queensland, joining fixture boss Travis Auld, who is set to complete quarantine.

Those departing on three separate flights from Melbourne on Thursday afternoon will spend a fortnight in quarantine before they can join their partners and teammates for the remainder of the season.

Even then, AFL and Queensland government restrictions will apply. A visit to the beach for a swim, walk or run is fine, but not for the chance at sourcing a tan.

A latte run is effectively that, with no lingering allowed at the cafes or restaurants on the Gold Coast or in Noosa.

As for a visit to a theme park, the warning from the AFL is clear after an inadvertent breach by grandparents of a player brought the issue to the notice of league officials.

With the borders continuing to close in around the competition, no further breaches will be tolerated, which is understandable given the threat to the season at large.

Giants veteran Heath Shaw saw the funny side, posting a photograph of a dozen bottles of red wine packed neatly into a suitcase. “It’s our turn for hub life and packing my bag is always a tough task. (I) never know if I have packed too much or not enough,” he said.

That may well depend on the Giants’ ability to rescue their season. Sitting 12th, the Giants will be hosted by the Suns on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

Kangaroo Shaun Higgins and his family have been based on the Gold Coast for three weeks, with North Melbourne sharing its hub with two other teams. He said the regulations provided by the AFL in a document which runs to “30 or 40 pages long” were detailed.

While the Kangaroos were investigated as a result of the partners of some players attending last Saturday’s narrow loss to Carlton at the Gabba, he said there was no broader issue.

“From what I can see, everyone is trying to do the right thing at the moment and live under the restrictions of both the AFL but also the Queensland government, which has been huge in enabling the AFL to continue up here,” he said on SEN.

There is good news for Bomber James Stewart, who was forced into isolation for a fortnight in June as a result of being the wrestling partner of Conor McKenna, whose positive test for COVID-19 resulted in a clash between Essendon and Melbourne being postponed. He will return for a clash against Brisbane on Friday night.

@GWSGIANTS Its our turn for hub life and packing my bag is always a tough task, never know if I have packed to much or not enough.🍷 pic.twitter.com/exDN2lCxQV

— Heath Shaw (@LordHeathShaw23) July 30, 2020

Will the Hawks be targeting Patrick Cripps tomorrow? @Nat_Edwards brings you all the news in your Thursday Footy Feed. https://t.co/VAsoSD7YEO

— AFL (@AFL) July 30, 2020