NRL and AFL on high alert after Sydney Covid cases
The NRL will put their Sydney clubs back on level 3 protocols as the AFL stepped up plans to prevent interruptions to their competition.
The NRL will put their Sydney clubs back on level 3 protocols from Friday — demanding their players stay at home unless training, exercising or shopping for essential items — in a bid to ring-fence the competition from COVID-19 and ensure Magic Round goes ahead as planned.
The NRL’s response to the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney came as the AFL stepped up their plans to prevent interruptions to their competition.
The Sydney Swans, who like the Sydney Roosters train in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, will charter a flight to Melbourne on Thursday night – two days ahead of schedule – on the AFL’s advice to escape the developing COVID-19 situation.
They are due to face the unbeaten Demons at the MCG on Saturday night in a clash of top-four teams, while the start times for two matches have been swapped to enable Essendon to fly in and out of Sydney on the same day.
Greater Western Sydney will now host the Bombers at Giants Stadium at 2.10pm, while the Gold Coast-St Kilda match at Metricon Stadium will start at the earlier time of 1.45pm.
The NRL haven’t been forced to switch matches but they are on high alert after a Sydney man attended the Azure Cafe in the eastern suburbs, a spot often frequented by players from both the Roosters and Swans.
Roosters players and officials were sent for COVID-19 tests on Thursday morning as a precaution, although it is understood none of them were at the cafe during the times when it was exposed to COVID-19.
“These are strong measures to ensure our players remain healthy and the competition can proceed without interruption’’ NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said.
“We are hopeful Level 3 restrictions will only be implemented for a short time, but it is important to take this step as a safeguard measure, particularly with all clubs travelling to Brisbane next week.
“The restrictions we have put in place also reduces the risk of a player attending a venue which may lead them to being identified as a close or casual contact.”
Asked about Magic Round, Abdo acknowledged the weekend would be crucial.
“We’re inconstant contact with the Queensland government,” Abdo said.
“We are being very proactive and careful here. We have a good relationship with the government and we have been in constant commission.
“Everyone wants it to happen and everyone wants it to happen safely. I think we are in good shape in terms of what we have put in place.”
The NRL has contingency plans in place should the outbreak spread, including the potential to fly teams in and out on game day for Magic Round, or move games from Brisbane and play them in Sydney next weekend.
Their preference is for that not to happen and their hope is that Magic Round goes ahead with minimal interruption. The NRL developments come after the three Swans assistant coaches who attended the cafe near the SCG at the same time as a Sydney man who contracted COVID-19 returned negative tests.
Don Pyke, Dean Cox and Jarrad McVeigh were the three assistants who visited the Azure Cafe exposure site in Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter between 12.30pm and 1pm on Monday.
It’s understood Pyke, Cox and McVeigh won’t be on the charter flight despite their negative tests but senior coach John Longmire, who was at the cafe shortly after the exposure period, is clear to fly.
Longmire and all players and football staff also returned negative coronavirus results after being tested on Wednesday evening.
GWS Giants began their testing process on Wednesday and everyone at the club had to have one by Thursday afternoon.
The wife of the infectious man from Sydney’s eastern suburbs, who is in his 50s, has since also tested positive to COVID-19.
The Swans said in a statement: “The club will continue to closely monitor the COVID situation and be led by the AFL and NSW Government.
“The safety of everyone in our programs and the wider community remains paramount … the club continues to prepare to play on Saturday evening in Melbourne.”
NSW Health determined anyone who attended Azure Cafe in the exposure period was a casual contact of the man and must immediately be tested and self-isolate until being notified of a negative result.
Senior Giants player Callan Ward said nothing was “normal anymore” in these COVID-19 times, but he was confident this latest drama wouldn’t negatively impact his club.
“We just had to get a COVID test last night or this morning, and at the moment this weekend is a bit of an unknown – we don’t really know what’s going on,” Ward said.
“But I haven’t been told anything, to be honest, so I’ve got no idea what’s happening. At the moment, it’s no distraction, but it’s definitely still there, isn’t it, COVID?”
GWS players have Thursday off but were told on Wednesday afternoon to undergo a coronavirus test and asked if they attended any of the hot spots the infectious man attended.
Ward said he and his teammates needed to “be ready for anything”.
No Giants player was at any of the government-listed exposure sites.
GWS is due in Melbourne to tackle Richmond in round nine, while the Swans are scheduled to play Collingwood at the SCG on Saturday week.
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