Port Adelaide assistant coach Jarrad Schofield said it was hard to stop players embracing after criticism following season opener

Interviews were conducted from a distance due to social distancing, but high fives and celebrations continued on Thursday night during the AFL’s season opener.

A general view is seen during the Round 1 AFL match between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG in Melbourne, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

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Port Adelaide assistant coach Jarrod Schofield said changing players’ natural instincts was a challenge after players were criticised for celebrating goals with teammates in the opening game of the season at the MCG on Thursday night.

Schofield said they hadn’t had a directive from the AFL regarding post goal celebrations.

“It is an interesting situation,’’ Schofield said on SEN SA Breakfast.

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“There is physical contact all the time, so it’s an interesting one, where do you draw the line?

“I do know the amount of work we’re putting into our hygiene and distance between each other, we’re doing our utmost to adhere to the guidelines.

“In the moment you can’t change the natural instinct to embrace, we’ll just take it as it comes,’’ he said.

Schofield said it was a very different dynamic hearing so much on field noise on the broadcast.

“It was interesting, hearing the noise of the players,’’ Schofield added.

Jack Riewoldt of the Tigers gets involved in a wrestle during the Round 1 AFL match between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG in Melbourne, Thursday, March 19, 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

“There are some positives that can come out of it, very surreal that we’re at this stage.

“The positive we have to keep looking at is our wonderful game is up and going and we’re playing football,’’ he said.

Schofield said Port Adelaide had tried to plan for the unique situation of playing in front of now fans in the lead-up to the season opener.

“We’ve started prepping the guys in terms of going the other way, not saying too much at training so they can generate their own atmosphere at training,’’ Schofield said.

“We don’t want to change too many things, we want to keep things pretty streamline.

“As it is, it will be skeleton staff. We’re leaving some staff home,’’ he said.

Originally published as Port Adelaide assistant coach Jarrad Schofield said it was hard to stop players embracing after criticism following season opener