Eagles take flight into AFL’s uncharted territory

West Coast’s arrival on the Gold Coast on Monday starts the longest, and oddest, road trip in AFL history.

West Coast player Liam Ryan waves farewell with his daughter in his arms as the Eagles board their flight to the Gold Coast from Perth on Monday. Picture: AAP

West Coast’s arrival on the Gold Coast on Monday starts the longest, and oddest, road trip in AFL history for the four clubs entering into the competition’s Queensland quarantine hub.

While four weeks staying in a luxury resort on the Gold Coast in the middle of winter sounds like a dream, the reality of the hub is going to be a much different experience for the Eagles, as well as Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide.

The West Australian teams are staying at Royal Pines Resort, just down the road from Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium, while the South Australian clubs are to be based at the Mercure resort in nearby Palm Meadows.

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Both resorts have golf courses, restaurants and all the facilities you’d expect but, while several players are bringing their clubs to Queensland, the AFL’s biosecurity rules mean there’ll be no teeing off at either resort for players or staff until the rules change.

Even socialising will be difficult for the teams, with rules limiting groups to just eight within the hub and social distancing to be practised throughout.

When the Dockers arrive on Tuesday at Royal Pines, they might not even see their Perth rivals, with both clubs expected to be staying in separate wings of the hotel.

For those players with families, the time away will be particularly isolating.

Only three players, West Coast trio Liam Ryan, Tom Hickey, and Tim Kelly, are travelling with their families at this stage, although clubs might change that situation if the hub period is extended beyond the initial four weeks.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson hinted last week the unknown length of the stay was perhaps the biggest challenge he and his players and staff would face.

“We are used to travelling; we’re used to playing on the road; we’re used to being together a lot but probably not this long,” Simpson said.

Roommates are out, with the Eagles and Dockers confirming it will be a one person per room arrangement for their stays.

To prepare for their trip east, Fremantle consulted sporting organisations more used to longer spells on the road such as Australia’s cricket and hockey teams. Dockers football manager Joe Brierty said the information gathered would be used to maintain the wellbeing of players and staff while on the road.

“I’m sure, once we get up there, we’ll continue to work through things along the way,” Brierty told ABC Perth. “Hopefully, we can get that advice as soon as we can to know whether we’re staying for an extended period or it’s just going to be that four-week block.”

Fremantle’s first match in the hub will be on Saturday at the Gabba against Brisbane, while the Eagles will take on Gold Coast later that same day at Metricon. The South Australian clubs will face each other in a Showdown on Saturday at Adelaide Oval before travelling next week to Queensland, ready to join the AFL’s COVID-19 road trip.

Meanwhile, two Crows teammates – one is an ex-Port player – have traded punches in a training brawl ahead of the Showdown.

Billy Frampton may have switched his Port guernsey for the Crows’ tricolours late last year, but that didn’t stop a bit of pre-Showdown biff between him and new teammate Kyle Hartigan at Adelaide’s match simulation training over the weekend.

Footage that emerged on Monday shows Hartigan and Frampton exchanging punches during a match simulation drill, before teammates separated them.

Both players had a brief push and shove, becoming more forceful, with Hartigan, wearing his No 15 jumper, appearing to get in at least two solid blows. Teammates rushed in to separate the pair, while a trainer also stepped in to quell the heated moment.

The Crows have since said, “neither player was hurt, there was no disciplinary action and it was being treated as a training incident in the heat of battle reflecting the intensity and competition of match simulation”.

AAP, LIZ WALSH