AFL stars report for mandatory COVID-19 testing but league confident footy’s return won’t be derailed by positive test
Some of the biggest names in the game including Dustin Martin and Jake Stringer have been the first players to go through the AFL’s mandatory pop-up COVID-19 testing site at Marvel Stadium.
AFL
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It was “not very pleasant”, but Richmond captain Trent Cotchin knew it would be a vital step to getting football back.
Cotchin, 30, was one of approximately 250 players and officials who were swabbed at a pop-up coronavirus testing facility at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday, with the league mandating that every person to be involved in the game be tested by Friday.
The testing blitz was ordered on Tuesday and wasted no time.
Similar to other testing hubs set up by health authorities around the country, players and officials do not leave their cars with a designated official on hand to administer the test.
It involves a swab being taken from the mouth and also a long swab inserted deep into the nose.
Results can take up to a few days to receive, with the Friday deadline set in an effort to have all results on hand by Monday’s hoped return to training.
“It’s not very pleasant, but it is what it is,” Cotchin admitted after his turn came.
“At least we’ll be clear on where we all stand.”
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Cats players will be tested in Geelong, while interstate teams have dedicated testing sites in their respective cities.
AFL players were consulted across a day of phone hook-ups with the AFL Players’ Association, where they were briefed on a range of return-to-play protocols.
Players will be tested twice per week when training and competition resumes, and will be forced to quarantine in their homes with little social contact in an effort to keep the game virus-free.
Cotchin said that it was going to be the price paid in order to have football return as soon as possible.
“Clearly that is the case if we want to get footy back, which is great for the community,” he said.
Bombers coach John Worsfold was one of the first to arrive at the testing facility early Wednesday morning, followed by skipper Dyson Heppell and stars Michael Hurley, Jake Stringer and Devon Smith.
“The quicker we get on top of this, the better, and it’s all about getting the game back and giving back to our fans,” Smith said.
The AFL remains confident that a positive test would not derail the game’s return — even if it occurred during the season.
And AFL players will have to quarantine in their own homes in the days between coronavirus tests and games as part of the AFL’s exhaustive resilience methods for a return to footy.
The league flagged to clubs last week that as well as weekly coronavirus tests for all 850 AFL players, those players would effectively have to remain in their homes to ensure their continued health.
A full return-to-play plan was ticked off by the AFL commission on Monday with the final tweaks now being finalised for an announcement in coming days.
But the AFL’s health experts will be insistent that players cannot head to the shops or visit friends in the time between those negative tests and playing or training.
Players might end up training once with teammates between games and having twice-weekly coronavirus tests — with results confirmed again on match days — and in between effectively being prisoners in their own homes.
But it will be a necessary price for the league to save its own season, with clubs anticipating strict measures for staff and players.
In the NRL players are banned from having visitors in their houses as part of the exhaustive biosecurity measures.
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Players on stand-down were allowed to mix with family and friends in the community but the league is keen to reduce all cross-contamination and build in resilience measures.
Resilience protocols to minimise risk and impact on the game in the face of a positive test include steps that must be followed should a player return a positive test for COVID-19 including immediate isolation and contact tracing to ensure any further exposure is captured and quarantined.
The AIS Framework for Rebooting Sport recommended that when spending more time together — such as in gym or skills sessions outside of match practice — players are kept in groups to allow for some separation and isolation if required.
Any players further exposed would be immediately quarantined and tested, but it is considered unlikely that under this model it would be more than a few players at one time.
In a memo to clubs, AFL general counsel Andrew Dillon said the competition “must prioritise the health and safety of our players, club staff and the community”.
“This necessarily means minimising, wherever possible, person-to-person contact, the adoption of a rigorous testing regime, and strict compliance with the health and safety protocols,” he said.
Players have also been told that they will be unable to play any second-tier games this season.
It spells an end to Adelaide and Port Adelaide’s presence in the SANFL for this season, with Port having been set to celebrate its 150th year in the competition.
The league is exploring ways that players not selected in games could still get match practice, including games in “controlled environments” with different clubs.
The league is continuing talks with state governments in an effort to have players back training on Monday, with the rigorous testing regime a key plank in ensuring football’s return.
It must still earn exemptions from strict coronavirus measures, particularly those in WA and SA, for group training to be permitted.
Victoria is the only state to provide a full exemption to AFL teams to train fully in private facilities, while it is expected that NSW and Queensland would follow suit after granting the same to NRL teams in recent weeks.
Clubs have also been warned in no uncertain terms that any coronavirus rule breaks – such as that committed by the Adelaide Crows last week – would not be received well as the league desperately attempts to keep governments on side in an effort to resume the competition as smoothly as possible.
All clubs will have to nominate a designated coronavirus “compliance officer” who will be responsible for ensuring education, leadership and compliance with return to play protocols.
Originally published as AFL stars report for mandatory COVID-19 testing but league confident footy’s return won’t be derailed by positive test
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