Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir has echoed his West Coast counterpart Adam Simpson by calling for clarity over the end date for the AFL’s Queensland quarantine hub.
The Dockers slipped to the second defeat from as many matches during their hub experience on Sunday, beaten by Port Adelaide at Metricon Stadium.
The loss means Longmuir’s team is 0-3 with at least two more games to go on the Gold Coast.
Essendon’s Connor McKenna testing positive for COVID-19 has created a scheduling headache for the AFL, particularly with several of the Bombers’ team likely to have to go through a 14-day quarantine period.
Simpson said last week the Eagles would return to Perth on July 2, even if it means spending two weeks in hotel quarantine as per a Western Australian government request.
Longmuir wasn’t as specific as Simpson but said the Dockers were as eager as their rivals to know exactly when they will be heading home.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“As a footy club we’d like clarity of what’s going on, but I trust Simon Garlick, Peter Bell, our board to be doing that work behind the scenes to be pushing for the best interests of our players, our club,” he said.
“It comes a point where we need to get home to families and we need to start playing home games at Optus.
“But we’re also mindful that we need to keep the AFL going and we need to do our part in that so if it means we have to stay in a hub for another week or another two weeks and then get home.
“Well, that’s what the AFL tell us to do.
“But I think we just need clarity.”
While disappointed with Sunday’s loss, the match did mark the return to the AFL for Jesse Hogan.
Despite a quiet night with just nine touches and one mark, Longmuir believes the forward will be better for the run after an 11-month absence due to injury and a mental health break.
“Like I’ve said all along with Jesse, it’s not about one week,” he said.
“It’s about making sure he stays in this team now and make sure he keeps building and becomes the player we know he can be.”
Nick
Roar Guru
"Clearly isolated" is an interesting concept. Again. It takes just one mistake doesn't it?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Just stating the facts which you have an issue with. How would a crowd clearly isolated from the two Victorian sides be an issue?
Nick
Roar Guru
And when they did in the past, you slagged them off for doing so.
Nick
Roar Guru
Love your penchant to slag Victorians off for complacency, but yet you've not issue at all with them coming over and then having a crowd in quarantine.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
If Victoria get their house in order probably after this hub (start of Aug) we may see the borders open up and there will be no need for a hub, then fly in fly out footy will re commence. Hence McGowan has gained a minimum of 3 more games for each team in WA than they perhaps may have had.
Macca
Roar Rookie
For a start the fact the 4 clubs had to leave is down to the same govt bringing in this nonsense. Second I can understand the govt keeping the borders closed and forcing your teams out (at least that is consistent logic keeping the population safe by not bringing in teams from states with covid) far more than this. Finally you think it is a win because you got 3 weeks of games, if McGowan applies a bit of common sense and allows the clubs simply to fly in and out of Perth each week (like Qld) you could have games ever you week for 13 weeks. If he doesn't see sense the WA teams are heading back into a hub.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Why not? If you have crowds restricted to the upper tiers what would be the problem?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Nonsensical is the 4 clubs out of the two states who have best managed Covid having to hub on the Gold Coast for 5 weeks. But despite it being nonsensical the clubs have gone and done it to keep the season going, and now Collingwood and Geelong are doing the same.... Good on them! Regardless of whether McGowan has had a political gain, the population have had a gain of their own. They get a block of games in their home state with crowds that'll boost the economy and also the finances of both clubs and surrounding businesses. I'm really happy with McGowan, he's put WA first and now we are getting the rewards.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Who said anything about what is fair - all I am saying is it is nonsensical. As for it being a bad thing for WA, I think anytime a got uses a crises for political gain it is a bad thing for the population.
Micko
Roar Rookie
I found out by accident that there's a whole new suburb estate not far from me. Have you ever heard of Treeby? I was wondering why so much traffic goes down Jandakot Rd from Berrigan Drive (which is now a busy intersection). This now adds on traffic to the general area to the already disaster of town planning that is Cockburn Central & Gateway shopping centre!
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Well, is that a bad thing for Western Australia? Political or not you've gotta admit Marky has played this very well. He's going to have full stadiums in time for the hub as well. And considering our clubs will have been on the hub for 5 weeks is it really that unfair for a couple of Vic clubs to be over here for 3?
Macca
Roar Rookie
Can't see the need for them to play each other in Perth.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yep it looks attractive to me. Perth is getting way too big! :sick:
Micko
Roar Rookie
The WA Premier has been willing to accommodate interstate teams from the start...literally nothing has changed. He's even made the point that Optus Stadium being in the same precinct as Crown Casino in Burswood provides a natural quarantine hub.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Partly political, the whole thing is political. The hub will do nothing to protect the population but everything to keep them happy and generate cash for the state.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
McGowan winning votes by stitching up Victorian teams? It's definitely partly political. It's not a coincidence that we are allowed 60k fans on the 18th of July and then the derby being played on the 19th.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The WA premier has said he's willing to accommodate interstate AFL teams since Optus Stadium is essentially right next to Crown casino and the various hotels there that can be used as an isolated quarantine base for interstate teams.
Macca
Roar Rookie
I know that but WA's rules make no sense. What exactly is being achieved by forcing Victorian clubs to stay longer than necessary?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Adelaide's a super great city for me; especially from a planned/livability perspective. If I had the a clean slate from which to raise a family, Adelaide would be my choice.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The only mainland state capital that seems to have not been inundated with mass migration over the last 20-30 years. I don't even think many kiwis live in Adelaide.