Worsfold says AFL players will go for hubs

Essendon coach John Worsfold has thrown his support behind the AFL’s controversial quarantine hub option.

Bombers coach John Worsfold is keen on any plan that restarts the AFL season Picture: Michael Klein

Essendon coach John Worsfold has thrown his support behind the AFL’s controversial quarantine hub option if it means getting the 2020 season under way as he prepares to emerge from his own self-isolation on Thursday.

Worsfold has isolated for 14 days at his family home in Perth after choosing to return to Western Australia as it closed its borders, due to the coronavirus crisis.

The first thing he has planned is to go for a run after “smashing” out some sessions on an exercise bike across the past fortnight.

“I am a free man as of (Thursday),” Worsfold said.

“I have already teed up to meet someone for a run — you are ­allowed to run with one other ­person. It hasn’t been too bad … I’ve been around home with my ­family.”

Worsfold stressed he wasn’t prepared to speak on behalf of the playing group, but was personally supportive of quarantine hubs in states with lower infection rates.

“This is going to be a short-term thing, if it has to happen to get the comp running,” he said.

“If this is the only way to see out this footy season, I think the majority of players would be keen to be involved.

“I’m not going to speak on behalf of the players’ association … but for the way I’m wired, I am saying, ‘let’s get it going, where do I have to be and what do I have to do’. That’s a personal opinion, but as with all these things, we need to listen to all the stakeholders.”

Worsfold said the Bombers had given the players a break since the season was shut down following their round one win over Fremantle. But that was about to change in the coming days.

“We’ve given the players a bit of a spell from football education over the first couple of weeks,” he said. “That stuff will now get filtered out to the players … there will be some learning opportunities. The players I have spoken to have said they really want to start looking at some footy.

“We won’t overload them, but there will be some small bits for them to pick apart.”

Sydney co-captain Luke Parker has kept busy in recent weeks with renovation and charity work, but he and his teammates are craving some sort of timeline regarding their main vocation.

Parker has tried to put his time in shutdown to good use, swapping footy boots for work boots and helping out with former Socceroo Craig Foster’s Play For Lives initiative at the invitation of Kieren Jack. The hard-nosed midfielder has also been training in isolation and trying to lead from the front; as much as you can in WhatsApp groups and video calls. “It’s gone pretty well so far. The main thing is to keep checking on each other and do what we can,” Parker said.

“We’ve got our programs. A few of the boys still live together, which is good. “It’s difficult times for everyone at the moment, to keep that camaraderie with the whole team, but we’re doing what we can.

“The main thing for the fitness and conditioning staff, and for the boys’ wellbeing, is just knowing what the future looks like and giving a timeline. Then you can start planning.”

Parker was diplomatic but doubtful about the prospect of quarantine hubs forming part of a resumption, arguing “some players would be more open to it than others”. Parker suggested the Swans treated the past fortnight “a little bit like an off-season”.

Herald Sun, AAP