AFL ruling shuts down competitive advantage of clubs with relaxed coronavirus regulations

Changes to state coronavirus lockdown rules have opened the door for players outside Victoria to gain an advantage on the rest of the competition. But the AFL has acted to maintain a level playing field.

Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes of the Giants during a training session at Mount Martha. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

The AFL has shut down a ­potential advantage for Western Australian clubs that would have let them train in groups of 10 in coming weeks.

West Coast defender Brad Sheppard revealed that the Eagles would be able to start meeting in larger groups because of changes to WA state guidelines.

It followed WA premier Mark McGowan announcing he was lifting the limit on outdoor gatherings to 10 people after the state recorded a declining COVID-19 cases tally.

But the Herald Sun can ­reveal that AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking’s department has shut down the loophole, ruling that players would still be restricted to one training partner in line with other states.

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Lachie Whitfield and Nick Haynes of the Giants during a training session at Mount Martha. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

The league emailed clubs to tell them the competitive equalisation measures would remain in place so teams in some states did not have an unfair advantage.

Fremantle football boss Peter Bell told the Herald Sun the Dockers would not change training protocols until receiving guidance from the AFL.

Clubs have just been told under an AFL ruling that WA-based teams can still only train in pairs despite Brad Sheppard suggesting groups of 10 might train together under new state ruling. Clubs told by AFL they must maintain a level playing field https://t.co/h7M6abNNBn

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) April 28, 2020

“Guys might have seen it as a green light to potentially get back together but we have ­instructed them you can’t do that,” he said.

“We hadn’t made any adjustments to training given the AFL’s guidelines continue, which had been our understanding.”

Victorian clubs had complained to the league about a competitive advantage and been told that Hocking would make a quick ruling before a scheduled meeting of football managers this week.

Clubs believed teams in groups of 10 could run specific training drills involving tactics and gain a significant advantage over rival sides.

Bell said the Dockers had done well under social distancing requirements but the club continued to remind them of their responsibilities.

Jordan Roughead and Jack Madgen of Collingwood training together. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

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“It can be difficult and every state has slightly different rules, which can be confusing at times, but by and large most people have got it right. It’s not to say everyone is perfect but the guys have been very good,” Bell said.

Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said that practising strict social distancing was about slowing down the curve, not just escaping a penalty for poor actions.

“For us it’s really important,” he said. “The players are trying to remain fit and healthy but they do need to respect this is something we are trying to get on top of.

“The positive things we have seen is the number of new cases are below the number (to have) recovered.

“It’s what we are trying to do to eradicate this. We have to make sure we adhere to all the guidelines.”

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Originally published as AFL ruling shuts down competitive advantage of clubs with relaxed coronavirus regulations