AFLW 2022: Covid guidelines revealed as Fremantle clash against GWS moved from WA

The effects of Covid-19 are already being felt on the AFLW with a match being moved. Meanwhile, the league has set out guidelines for cancelled and postponed matches.

Harry Gell

7 min read

5:24PMDecember 22, 2021

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

AFLW to expand to 18 teams for the 2022/23 season (7 News)

AFLW clubs will have to postpone or cancel matches next year if a Covid-19 outbreak leaves them with fewer than 21 available players.

The AFL released new guidelines for the women’s competition on Thursday as it attempts to navigate another pandemic-hit season.

The league has moved an AFLW game from Perth to Melbourne as the looming Omicron crisis threatens to play havoc with its 2022 season.

The Round 2 clash between Fremantle and Greater Western Sydney will be played at Whitten Oval instead of Fremantle Oval on Sunday, January 16.

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Fremantle’s match against Greater Western Sydney has been moved. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

The Western Australian government’s hardline border restrictions will pose significant problems for AFLW sides to fly in and out of the state if they have a positive case in their squads.

It comes as more than 10 Sydney Swans players tested positive to the virus this week during their Christmas break.

The Swans players, who were not expected back at the club until January 6, will be forced to isolate during their holiday period.

The league stated that AFLW teams would need the following number of footballers to play on: at least 16 available primary list players as well as five available train-on players.

Each club has 30 primary list players and 10 train-on players.

If these numbers are not met, the AFL will either reschedule the match or “in the most extreme consideration cancel the match”.

AFLW Clubs could be forced to cancel matches if Covid wreaks havoc. Picture: Getty Images

“Over the last two seasons the AFL have taken a very cautious approach when dealing with the pandemic,” AFL General Manager Competition Management Laura Kane said.

“We have planned for every possible contingency and circumstance, and it is an approach that has successfully helped us navigate both our competitions through a really uncertain time.”

The league cancelled a practice match last week between Greater Western Sydney and Adelaide in South Australia because of a positive among the Giants playing group.

But the AFL was more concerned about the prospect of GWS players being forced into isolation or quarantine in Adelaide because of stricter SA border rules.

“In a national sport, played across many states and territories, we need to be able to adapt, and adapt quickly to the covid conditions at any one time at locations where home teams are based, or away teams are travelling to,” Kane said.

Christmas saves AFLW players in Covid scare

The AFL has pulled the pin on a women’s practice game in South Australia to avoid the risk of players and staff spending Christmas in quarantine.

A Greater Western Sydney footballer tested positive to Covid-19 on Thursday, prompting the league to cancel the Giants’ Saturday match against the Crows in Adelaide late that night.

SA Health’s strict quarantine rules meant that if they deemed any of the Giants to be close contacts upon arrival in Adelaide, those affected would have been forced to isolate for seven days, a week out from Christmas.

If another Covid case emerged within the GWS squad after entering the state, that person would also have to quarantine in South Australia.

The Adelaide Crows-GWS AFLW practice match has been called off. Picture: Getty Images

SCROLL DOWN TO READ OUR FULL PRACTICE MATCH PREVIEW

Although the league planned to play through Covid next year with positive cases coming in and out of teams like injuries, it was extra cautious on this occasion because it was a scratch match and they did not want teams missing Christmas.

Everyone else at the Giants has since tested negative.

The AFL’s decision came a day after Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins was ruled out of the Second Ashes Test in Adelaide only hours before the start of play because he was a close contact of a positive case at a city restaurant.

League competition management boss Laura Kane said the decision was made in consultation with both clubs to “minimise risk to all players, staff and officials ahead of the Christmas and new year period”.

“Players and staff are looking forward to the holiday period and spending time with their family and friends and when you consider the time of year together with current quarantine requirements across respective states, it was determined the safest decision on this occasion is to cancel the practice match,” Kane said.

Crows players get together for pre-season training at Norwood Oval in September.

GWS was set to fly to Adelaide on Friday afternoon and would have been tested again on arrival.

AFL officials explored several alternative scenarios before abandoning the game.

Melbourne AFLW star midfielder Karen Paxman said Covid disruptions during the season were now to be expected.

“I think we’ve kind of gotten to the point now where it is almost just part of day to day,” she said.

“We understand there might be hiccups along the way and we just roll with the punches.

All we can do is what’s in our control as well as us being cautious in what we do away from football, because ultimately we don’t want to miss games.

“But if it happens, it happens and we just carry on and do our best.”

The Giants could have played the match if it was against another side that was already in New South Wales.

Sydney does not yet have a team and is set to enter the competition at the end of 2022.

The league is working with the Giants to try to schedule another practice match before their Round 1 clash on January 9.

Giants head of women’s football Briana Harvey said cancelling the match was the right call.

“The decision wasn’t made lightly and we thank the AFL for their proactiveness and support of our program,” Harvey said.

New South Wales health regulations allow the Giants to continue training as normal – while the positive case sits out – so long as they test negative.

GWS will hit the track in Sydney on Saturday.

They will then have a week’s break.

Crows head of women’s football Phil Harper said the club was disappointed it would not get to play but understood the decision.

“The pandemic has taught us all to be prepared for things to change at the last minute and this is another reminder of that,” Harper said.

“We will still train tonight and use that as an opportunity to get a really solid hit-out in before our players have a brief break ahead of returning to the club to prepare for the 2022 season.”

Battle stations: First look at AFLW 2022 teams

It’s time for ALFW fans to get their fix.

We have listed the name of every player taking part in the six practice matches on Saturday.

Melbourne supporters will get their first look at new star forward Tayla Harris in the red and blue.

Harris and the Dees will take on Collingwood at Casey Fields with fellow stars Daisy Pearce, Karen Paxman and Steph Chiocci also set to partake.

Saturday 18 December

Adelaide v GWS, Norwood Oval, 11.30am (Cancelled)

Melbourne v Collingwood, Casey Fields, 10am

(Closed to public) Carlton v St Kilda, Ikon Park, 11am

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne, VU Whitten Oval, 1pm

(Closed to public) Richmond v Geelong, Swinburne Centre, 2pm

Tayla Harris marks strongly during an intra club practice match. Picture: Michael Klein

Melbourne

1 G CAMPBELL

3 M GAY

4 K PAXMAN

5 T HANKS

6 D PEARCE

7 T HARRIS

8 S LAMPARD

9 L BIRCH

10 K HORE

11 E WEST

12 S SCOTT

14 L MITHEN

15 L PEARCE

16 A BANNAN

17 T GILLARD

18 C SHERRIFF

19 J PARRY

20 B TARRANT

21 M CARIS

22 E McNAMARA

23 S GOLDRICK

24 M FITZSIMON

26 L MAGEE

28 A BROWN

29 E ZANKER

30 S HEATH

31 K PETREVSKI

32 G COLVIN

Chloe Molloy will take on the Demons at Casey Fields on Saturday.

Collingwood

1 S FREDERICK

2 C MOLLOY

3 B DAVEY

4 I BARNETT

5 A VELARDO

6 J ALLEN

7 S ROWE

8 B BONNICI

9 A PORTER

11 I PURCELL

12 S LIVINGSTONE

13 J LAMBERT

14 A SHERIDAN

15 E FOWLER

16 A NEWMAN

17 S CHIOCCI

18 R SCHLEICHER

19 B SMITH

20 E JAMES

22 S CASEY

23 L BUTLER

24 S ALEXANDER

25 M CANN

26 T BROWN

21 A DOWNIE

41 E CHASTON

40 A MOLONEY

50 E O’DEA

Madison Prespakis and her Blues teammates will take on St Kilda at Ikon Park on Saturday.

Carlton

1 G EGAN

2 J DAL POS

3 D VESCIO

4 M PRESPAKIS

5 A MCKAY

6 G POUND

7 B WALKER

9 K HARRINGTON

11 A LEE

12 L BRAZZALE

13 L McEVOY

15 J GOOD

16 B MOODY

17 C HAMMANS

18 M GUERIN

19 G GEE

20 C WILSON

21 N STEVENS

22 C JONES

23 D WALKER

24 B VICKERS

25 K SHERAR

26 P TRUDGEON

28 I MILFORD

31 B VERNON

32 N PLANE

35 P SCHAAP

46 E O’DEA

Marijana Rajcic steps up the pre-season training at Norwood Oval earlier this year. Picture: Morgan Sette

Adelaide

1 C GOULD

2 E JONES

4 Z PROWSE

5 R MARTIN

6 H BUTTON

7 N GORE

8 N ALLEN

10 E MARINOFF

11 J SIMMONS

12 C BIDDELL

13 E PHILLIPS

14 S THOMPSON

15 D PONTER

16 A CONSIDINE

17 M NEWMAN

19 J HEWETT

20 H MUNYARD

21 M McKINNON

24 A WOODLAND

25 T CHARLTON

26 C RANDALL

27 B BALLARD

28 A TONON

32 M RAJCIC

33 A HATCHARD

39 S ALLAN

Alicia Eva and her teammates will take on Adelaide at Norwood Oval this weekend.

2 A EVA

3 A PARKER

4 K SMITH

5 J DOYLE

6 R BEESON

7 K LOYNES

9 T HETHERINGTON

10 J GRIERSON

11 C DALTON

12 L STEPHENSON

13 C STAUNTON

14 A LISTER

15 B STACK

17 G GARNETT

19 R PRIVITELLI

20 L STEANE

21 P RANDALL

22 A MORPHETT

24 H ZREIKA

25 E LORENZINI

26 G FOWLER

28 C SIMMONS

30 A DALLAWAY

31 B MOWBRAY

32 T MACKRILL

33 E PEASE

37 E GRAHAM

Kate McCarthy puts the final touches on her preparation at RSEA Park this month.

St Kilda

1 M McDONALD

2 E FRIEND ^

3 A BURKE

4 A WOODWARD

5 D GUTTRIDGE

6 A RICHARDS ^

7 R WATT

8 B JAKOBSSON

9 K McCARTHY

11 I SHANNON

12 K SHIERLAW

13 R SAULITIS

14 H PRIEST (C)

17 C GREISER

18 T LUCAS-RODD

19 J MATIN

20 R OTT

23 O VESELY

25 R DILLON

26 L CUTTING

27 N XENOS

28 L BURKE

29 T WHITE

34 T MEYER

35 C PHILLIPS

36 J VAN DYK

Western Bulldogs captain Ellie Blackburn will be hoping her team can get the better of North Melbourne at their home ground.

Western Bulldogs

1 B LOCHLAND

2 E BLACKBURN

3 I GRANT

5 J WOODS

6 E MORRISON

8 T TOOGOOD

9 E BROWN

11 E BENNETTS

13 C MOODY

14 E GAMBLE

16 N FERRES

17 R CHRISTGOERGL

18 B GUTKNECHT

19 A GUEST

20 I PRITCHARD

22 H SCOTT

23 J FITZGERALD

24 A SMITH

25 N MORRIS-DALTON

27 K LAMB

29 A LING

30 R CRANSTON

33 A EDMONDS

35 A STRAHAN

North Melbourne

1 S ABBATANGELO

2 D BANNISTER

3 B EDDEY

5 T CRAVEN

6 A O’LOUGHLIN

7 A RIDDELL

8 A GILROY

9 E KEARNEY

10 K ASHMORE

11 D BATEMAN

12 N BRESNEHAN

15 A SMITH

16 T RANDALL

17 S WRIGHT

20 J FERGUSON

22 E GAVALAS

23 M KING

25 J GARNER

26 K RENNIE

27 J DUFFIN

31 D HARDIMAN

35 J BRUTON

36 B BROWN

43 G CAMPBELL

60 E KING

Tigers ruckman Sabrina Frederick will line-up against the Cats in a closed session at the Swinburne Centre.

Richmond

1 S MOLAN

3 K BRENNAN (C)

4 M CONTI

5 M BRANCATISANO

6 C BERNARDI

8 C WAKEFIELD

9 H BURCHELL

10 K JACQUES

11 J HOSKING

12 S D’ARCY

14 P KELLY

15 R MILLER

16 L MCCLELLAND

17 S DARGAN

18 S SANSONETTI

19 K DEMPSEY

21 S LOCKE

23 H CORDNER

24 T STAHL

25 S REID

27 E YASSIR

28 G SEYMOUR

31 M KEILY

36 I HOUTSMA

Geelong Cats (from left) Julia Crocket-Grills, Chantel Imonson, Georgie Rankin, Maddy Keryk, Nina Morrison and Meg McDonald get ready for another season.